Do Deuce Set for Season Debut in Kyoto Kinen
Image:
Description:
Photo: Katsumi Saito
Do Deuce wins the Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse
Do Deuce, winner of the 2022 Tokyo Yushun/Japanese Derby (G1), makes his seasonal debut in the Kyoto Kinen (G2) at Hanshin Racecourse Feb. 12.
The 4-year-old colt by Heart's Cry ran twice in France during the second half of the 2022 season. After finishing fourth Sept. 11 in the Prix Niel (G2), the colt owned by Masaaki Matsushima's Kieffers Co. was 19th in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) Oct.2, when Do Deuce struggled to handle bottomless ground at Longchamp.
Do Deuce, who skipped the Japan Cup (G1) in November and Arima Kinen (G1) in December, had an easy time for two months at the Shigaraki branch of Northern Farm since returning from France, and came back at Yasuo Tomomichi's barn at the Ritto Training Center Dec. 26 to resume full training.
Do Deuce has been breezed once a week since then, and Yutaka Take rode him Feb. 1 for the first time since Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, when Do Deuce was breezed for six furlongs and clocked 80.3 seconds.
Tomomichi plans to ship Do Deuce to Dubai in March for the Dubai Turf (G1).
In addition to Do Deuce, the field for the Kyoto Kinen includes Efforia, the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2021 who finished fifth in Arima Kinen Dec. 25, and Killer Ability, winner of 2021 Hopeful Stakes (G1), who captured the Chunichi Shimbun Hai (G3) at Chukyo Dec. 10.