Croix du Nord entered Japan's Hopeful Stakes (G1) Dec. 28 showing all the promise in the world, and he delivered in spades, setting himself up to be champion 2-year-old of 2024 and the early favorite for the major 3-year-old events of 2025.
The potential was obvious as the Kitasan Black colt went to the post at Nakayama Racecourse as the odds-on favorite. He had won both his previous starts, and his connections oozed confidence.
After a sharp start, jockey Yuichi Kitamura allowed Croix du Nord to settle in midpack as some of his rivals maneuvered for position down the long backstretch run. Picking things up entering the sweeping turn, he was closing on the leaders entering the straight with nothing but grass in front of him.
With only two gentle reminders from Kitamura as he climbed the hill with 200 meters remaining, Croix du Nord smoothly accelerated to win by two lengths, finishing the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in 2:00.5, just 0.3 seconds off the race record set a year earlier by Regaleira.
Giovanni finished second and huge long shot Faust Rasen, at odds of 301-1, took the lead on the turn after making a bold move on the backstretch, then held on for third. None of the other well-fancied contenders was close at the finish, with Magic Sands, the second betting choice, reporting 16th of 18 and third-favorite Piko Chan Black finishing 13th.
"I can't say that the race went exactly as planned," Kitamura said. "But I had complete faith in him and knew that he would make it through whatever situation he would be in during the race."
There were a few questions, including whether Croix du Nord would adapt to his first right-handed trip and whether he could go an additional 200 meters beyond his longest previous trip against a deep field.
"I totally believed he would handle that too," Kitamura said. "His physical condition since his last start had improved, and his movement was sharp. I wanted him to finish the last of his 2-year-old start on a good note so that we would be able to focus on his 3-year-old campaign which now will carry much expectation."
Indeed, Croix du Nord now stands at the same spot 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail occupied at this point in his career—undefeated after three starts. The Takashi Saito-trained Croix du Nord won at first asking in June, then jumped right into the top ranks of 2-year-olds with a victory in the Hai Nisai Stakes (G2) Nov. 16.
The colt, out of the Cape Cross mare Rising Cross, is from familiar connections. Bred by Northern Racing, he carries the black, red, and yellow silks of Sunday Racing.
If Kitamura's assessment of his performance in the Hopeful wasn't enough to stir confidence in Croix du Nord's future, his prerace comments should.
"He has no bad points and gets high marks for his overall ability," the jockey said.
The 2025 Japanese classics get going with the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) April 20 at Nakayama at the same 2,000 meters. A month and a half later is the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) at 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) going left-handed at Tokyo Racecourse June 1.
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