The full field set for the June 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) includes the first five finishers from the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1)—Museum Mile, Croix du Nord, Masquerade Ball, Giovanni and Satono Shining.
And Shohei. We'll get to him in a minute.
Museum Mile was a bit of a long shot in that last race but delivered nicely, chasing down previously undefeated Croix du Nord in the stretch run to win by 1 1/2 lengths. It was his second grade 1 start, following a runner-up showing in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1) in December in Kyoto.
The Futurity was run at 1,600 meters (about one mile) and Museum Mile couldn't get the stretch out to 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in his 2025 debut, the Hochi Hai Yayoi Deep Impact Kinen (G2), finishing fourth. The Leontes colt turned that around in the Satsuki Sho, overcoming some traffic issues to finish that 2,000 meters off full of steam. Still, trainer Daisuke Takayanagi said there are concerns.
"It's been a long time since he has raced to the left and I am a bit concerned about the venue and the distance," Takayanagi said. "However, he has gotten a lot of experience so there's probably no reason to worry. He handled the Satsuki Sho well, which I think reflects how well he has matured mentally."
The Satsuki Sho defeat was Croix du Nord's first after three wins. His inability to hold off Museum Mile's stretch challenge could call into question his ability to handle the Derby's 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles).
However, he won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) in December at 2,000 meters so there's that. And, he's by Kitasan Black, who finished 14th in the 2015 Tokyo Yushun but later won seven group 1 races, including the 3,200 meters (about two-mile) Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1), which he did twice.
Trainer Takashi Saito said he believes he's solved a problem with Croix du Nord's switching leads and reported the colt responded well in his final work session.
"He's definitely ready and looks better and more filled out than he did for the Satsuki Sho," Saito said. "This has been our goal from his debut and I've given him a rotation that works with this distance. Tokyo is no problem and with Kitasan Black as his sire, I think he can handle it."
Masquerade Ball, a Duramente colt, won his first two starts in 2024, then regressed to finish 11th in the Hopeful Stakes at Nakayama Dec. 28. He turned a new leaf with the new calendar, winning the Tokinominoru Kinen (G3) before the third-place finish in the Satsuki Sho.
Giovanni and Satono Shining both have been on the edge of a breakthrough. Giovanni was second behind Croix du Nord in the Hopeful and won a listed stakes at Hanshin before the Satsuki Sho fourth. Satono Shining was fifth in the Satsuki Sho after starting his 3-year-old campaign with a grade 3 win at Kyoto Racecourse.
Now, Shohei.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar, Shohei Ohtani, is such a sports icon in Japan the only wonder is he didn't have a horse named for him long ago. Can the horse live up to the legend?
The jury's still out. The Saturnalia colt finished second, then first in two maiden races to start his career in 2024. He reported fourth in his first 3-year-old start, the Kisaragi Sho (G3) Feb. 9, then returned a winner after the 2,200 meters of the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G2) May 10.
He certainly has the connections and breeding to help him maximize his ability. Saturnalia won the Hopeful in 2018 and the Satsuki Sho in 2019 before finishing fourth in the Derby. He then capped his career with a win in the Kinko Sho (G2) at 2,000 meters and a fourth-place finish in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at 2,200 meters in 2020.
Shohei was bred by the powerful Northern Farm and runs for successful owner Tatsue Ishikawa. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi has won the Derby three times—tops among active trainers. And scheduled to ride is Christophe Lemaire, Japan's perennial leading rider.
Tomomichi put Shohei through a final work May 22 with Lemaire up.
"There's not much time between races, so I just wanted to check the colt's responses over the final stage," Tomomichi said. "The jockey seemed to like what he felt in morning work. I don't see the trip to Tokyo or the (left-handed) direction of the track as posing any problem.
"Looking at his last race, I think he can handle 2,400 meters. When he looks good in work, he usually races well too. I'm looking forward to it."
