Geoglyph Continues Japanese Triple Crown Bid in Derby

The Japanese Triple Crown moves to Tokyo May 29 for its second leg, the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1), and most of the competitors from the first event are back for another try.

The only colt in the field of 18 with an actual chance for the crown is Geoglyph, winner of the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) at Nakayama on April 17. The Drefong  colt used a late burst of speed to win that 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) by one length over stablemate Equinox to remain eligible for the three-race sweep.

But he certainly didn't scare anyone off as the six who finished directly behind him in a bunch all return. In all, 11 of the 18 starters from Nakayama are back.

The hard-luck story of the barrier draw is Equinox. The Kitasan Black  colt drew the No. 18 gate in the Satsuki Sho and it might have cost him the win as he held the lead late in the stretch run before Geoglyph blew by. He drew No. 18 again for the Tokyo heat.

The next five finishers from Nakayama who carry on the quest are Do Deuce, winner of the 2021 Asahi Hai Futurity (G1); Danon Beluga, winner of his two previous starts; Ask Victor More, who defeated Do Deuce in a grade 3 contest in March; Onyankopon; and Justin Rock.

Equinox makes his fourth start. He won twice as a 2-year-old, both times at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles). His connections say they are not concerned about his failure to hold the lead in the Satsuki Sho while moving on to the 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) of the Derby.

"He has kept his condition since his last race and he's probably better for having that run," said trainer Tetsuya Kimura. "It has been the same pattern with stablemate Geoglyph but, with Equinox, jockey Christophe Lemaire has just been putting him through his paces.

"I don't see any problem with the 2,400 meters at Tokyo as he's already produced a good result at the track."

The colt, bred by Northern Farm, races under the Silk Racing Co. colors of powder blue and red dots.

Geoglyph, also bred by Northern Farm but toting the colors of Sunday Racing, got no favors for the gods of the draw, either, landing gate No. 15 for jockey Yuichi Fukunaga.

"The staff at the farm and stable have got him in great condition," Fukunaga said of Geoglyph. "It will be important to see how the track is riding on the day. He is a talented horse so it shouldn't be difficult for him to adjust to the 2,400 meters."

Yutaka Take rides Do Deuce, whose victory in the Asahi Hai Futurity earned him top 2-year-old honors.

"He has good racing sense and I don't think it matters what the ground condition is like," Take said. "I have always had the ride on him so I've been able to see him develop, including when he was good enough to become the 2-year-old champion. He has a lot of ability, so even at this high level, he must have a chance."

The race starts at the midpoint of the stretch, continues left-handed around both sweeping turns of the Tokyo Racecourse layout, and requires a bit of extra late effort to negotiate the upward gradient through the final furlongs.

The Triple Crown series concludes with the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) at 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles) at Hanshin Racecourse Oct. 23. There have been eight Triple Crown winners in the history of Japanese racing, most recently Contrail in 2020.

In the 2021 Derby, Shahryar  edged Efforia in a classic finish. Shahryar went on to win the Japan Cup (G1) in November and started his 2022 season with a victory in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) while Efforia won the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) and the Arima Kinen (G1) later in the year and was named Japan's 2021 Horse of the Year.