Efforia Bids to Remain Undefeated in Japanese Derby

The 88th running of the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) May 30 at Tokyo Racecourse has a little something for nearly everyone—the top five finishers from the main prep race and even a filly looking to pull off a rare Derby win over colts.

It does not have one of the country's top 3-year-olds, Danon the Kid. Danon the Kid, winner of last year's Hopeful Stakes (G1), is sidelined, at least through the summer, with a recent training injury.

That absence seems to clear the way to the favorite's role for Efforia, an Epiphaneia colt who ran his record to 4-for-4 with a three-length victory April 18 in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) at Nakayama. That race was at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) and the colt will have to tack on another 400 meters in the Derby.

"On his breeding, as well as the way he's been running in his races, I don't see any problem with the extra distance this time," said Efforia's trainer, Yuichi Shikato. "With his big strides, the wider Tokyo track will suit him, too."

Jockey Takeshi Yokoyama, who will start Efforia from the 1 post, said the colt not only has held his condition since the Satsuki Sho but "seems to have become stronger."

The colt, out of the Heart's Cry  mare Katies Heart, was bred by Northern Farm and races for U Carrot Farm. Epiphaneia finished second in both the Satsuki Sho and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) but won the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) at 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles) and the Japan Cup (G1) at 2,400 meters at the height of his career in 2013-14.

The first five finishers in the Satsuki Sho gain automatic admission to the Tokyo Yushun and all four of those who trailed Efforia home last time—Titleholder, Stella Veloce, Admire Hadar, and Yoho Lake—will return for another try.

The lone filly in the field, Satono Reinas, bids to become just the fourth filly to win the race and the first since the immortal Vodka  in 2007. A life-size statue of Vodka in the spacious paddock area behind the Tokyo Racecourse grandstand bears testimony to her accomplishments.

Satono Reinas, a Deep Impact  filly with Argentine bloodlines on the bottom of her pedigree, won her first two starts in 2020 and since has finished second twice—each time behind the white filly Sodashi. She was just a neck shy of Sodashi at the end of the Oka Sho (Japanese One Thousand Guineas, G1) April 11 in her last start.

Satono Reinas has never been asked to go farther than 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) but jockey Christophe Lemaire said the added distance should help, rather than hurt, her chances in the Tokyo Yushun.

"She's a horse that hasn't reached her full potential," said Lemaire, Japan's leading rider. "And while she might not have quite enough speed over a mile, 2,400 meters will be good. She has a lot of ability, and she gets the two-kilo allowance here.

"I was just thinking to keep her in best condition during work this week, not worrying about the time. I haven't decided on a position to take in the race yet, but might want to be behind the favorite. A smooth race will be the key," Lemaire added.

He will have to work out that trip from the 16 stall in a field of 17.