Durezza Grabs a Share of the Japanese Triple Crown

Durezza, stepping into top-level competition for the first time, grabbed the third leg of Japan's Triple Crown Oct. 22 at Kyoto Racecourse, leading home the winners of the first two races while winning the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger-G1) by 3 1/2 lengths.

The Duramente  colt, partnered by Christophe Lemaire, overcame a huge class jump, the outside gate in a field of 17 and a step up in distance to 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles) to join Sol Oriens and Tastiera as part-owners of the Crown.

That outcome followed the pattern that also saw this year's British and U.S. Triple Crown series shared among three horses.

Lemaire seemed confident throughout the Kikuka Sho despite the formidable opposition.

Durezza sprang out of the No. 17 stall on the Kyoto backstretch, rushed up to the lead on his own initiative and charged through the first 1,000 meters (about 5 furlongs) in 1:00.4. Lemaire throttled back that relative breakneck speed, dropping Durezza back behind Libyan Glass and Pax Ottomanica.

Sweeping around the stretch turn for the second time with Libyan Glass showing the way, Lemaire asked for more, got it and easily ran on to the victory. Sol Oriens, winner of the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas-G1), put in a late bid to finish second and Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby-G1) winner Tastiera was along to get third over Libyan Glass.

Durezza completed the 3,000 meters in 3:01.0 over good-to-firm turf.

"He made a flying start and was keen to go," Lemaire said. "So I decided to let him take the lead. He responded well between the third and last corner which made me confident that he was going to close strongly. When he accelerated in the stretch, I knew we were going to win."

The brown colt, bred by Northern Racing, did have some advantages over his Triple Crown rivals going into the Kikuka Sho.

Trainer Tomohito Ozeki put together a regular schedule of nicely spaced starts that built up a record of four straight victories for Durezza, dating back to November of 2022, methodically climbing the class ladder while avoiding butting heads with the division leaders.

Tastiera, by contrast, had been idle since winning the Tokyo Yushun May 28 and Sol Oriens had finished second in a grade 2 event at Nakayama Sept. 18 in his first start since his Triple Crown hopes were extinguished.

The 84th running of the Kikuka Sho produced only the eighth Japanese Triple Crown winner. The most recent was Contrail in 2020. The series, as in other countries, requires speed in the early events and stamina in the finale and Lemaire said Durezza's victory bodes well for his future.

"To see him beat such a strong field today over the 3,000-meter distance means we can look forward to him doing well among grade 1 company over 2,000 and 2,400 meters also," Lemaire said.

Lemaire is locked in a tie with Yuga Kawada for the Japanese jockey title. He and Kawada, who finished 10th in the Kikuka Sho with third-favorite Satono Glanz, have 129 winners each. Joao Moreira, riding on a temporary license, was up on Tastiera while Takeshi Yokoyama, third in the standings with 101 wins, rode Sol Oriens.

It was Lemaire's third Kikuka Sho triumph following on 2016 and 2018 victories with Satono Diamond and Fierement, respectively. Overall, he has 46 grade 1 wins in Japan. Ozeki, who landed his first top-level score, cited Durezza's methodical preparation for the race.

"I feel he's developing well and has plenty of ability," Ozeki said. "He might not be an out-and-out stayer but he gets into his races well and has a good finish. He's in among top colts here, but he's had results against older horses and I want him to put that experience to good use this time."

Tastiera's trainer, Noriyuki Hori, took a different view of scheduling.

"He's nice and fresh now," Hori said before the race. "It was a very hot summer, and I think it's to his advantage that he's coming back for a race just now, even though that wasn't the original plan."

Grade 1 racing action shifts to Tokyo Racecourse Oct. 29 and to older horses in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) at 2,000 meters on the turf and then builds through the month to the Japan Cup (G1) Nov. 26.