Lameness in his right foreleg has cost Do Deuce the scheduled final start of his illustrious career in the Arima Kinen (G1) Dec. 22 at Nakayama Racecourse.
Two days out from the race, connections announced the likely heavy favorite would not seek his third straight group 1 win on the heels of his Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) and Japan Cup (G1) victories. Those prestigious late-season events were among five top-level scores for the 5-year-old son of Heart's Cry.
A retirement ceremony scheduled for Do Deuce after the Arima Kinen, win or lose, instead will be a tribute to previous triumphs, although his fans will be disappointed in his absence in the starting gate. The race is one of two each year that allows fans to vote on which horses they want to see run and Do Deuce collected a record 478,415 votes for this year's renewal.
Even in his absence, the quality of the field is reflected in the fact seven of top 10 vote-getters remain set to contest the 2,500 meters (about 12 1/2 furlongs).
Among them are Rousham Park and Shahryar, exiting second- and third-place finishes in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar; Danon Decile, winner of this year's Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1); Osaka Hai (G1) winner Bellagio Opera; Takarazuka Kinen (G1) winner Blow the Horn; Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) winner Urban Chic; and two-time grade 1 winner Stunning Rose.
The absence of the early favorite, though, leaves handicapping a bit up in the air.
Jockey Christophe Lemaire said Urban Chic has improved from his St. Leger win and reflected on his previous Arima Kinen rides on some legendary Japanese horses.
"I rode Heart's Cry and beat Deep Impact in the Arima Kinen (in 2005)," Lemaire said. "The Arima Kinen is a very difficult race to win. Heart's Cry won it when he was 4. Deep Impact was 3, and Urban Chic is 3, too. Though he is still young, he has fantastic ability, so I have my hopes up."
Danon Decile's trainer, Shogo Yasuda, noted his colt will be facing older horses for the first time and acknowledged there will be a learning curve.
"There will be new speeds and new paces for him to experience. I hope he can adapt, but with an eye to the future, I mostly hope it'll be a good experience for him," Yasuda said.
Stars on Earth was third in the 2023 Japan Cup and followed with a second in the Arima Kinen. She's back, as is Deep Bond, who will contest the Arima Kinen for the fourth straight year.
Stars on Earth finished seventh in this year's Japan Cup but trainer Mizuki Takayanagi downplayed that outcome.
"Her performance in the Japan Cup wasn't bad but she was coming off a long layoff and that was no doubt a factor," Takayanagi said. "Last year, she was at a disadvantage with the wide draw (post 16) but it wasn't a bad race. Her being able to finish in second place just shows how great an effort she made. If things go smoothly, I think she'll give it her best again."
Things started off better with the barrier draw as Stars on Earth, a 5-year-old Duramente mare, got stall 7 in a field scratched down to 15 with the loss of Do Deuce.
Both Breeders' Cup contenders were reported doing well after their travels.
"In the Breeders' Cup Turf, he raced from midfield, then finished strongly in third place only 0.3 seconds off the top," said Nobuyuki Tashiro, assistant trainer for Shahryar. "I'd say it was a very good race."
Rousham Park assistant trainer Hiroyuki Yamazaki said the 5-year-old "was a close second In the Breeders' Cup Turf, and at one point in the race he'd raised his head. But the jockey did a really good job of keeping him under control. So, he was able to prevent him from expending his energy and was able to do well in the final stage."
The Arima Kinen itself is a testing race for more than just the distance. It's run right-handed, starting from the outer loop directly into a sweeping turn leading to the first run down the stretch, which includes a sharp incline as the field approaches the finish. Then it's another full loop around the inner course and a second run through the stretch and up the hill.
