The wait seems almost endless: There has still not been a success by a horse trained in Japan in the history of the Prix de l` Arc de Triomphe. But in 2022, the likelihood of it happening this time could be higher than ever before.
Legendary jockey Yutaka Take won his sixth Japanese Derby when he rode Do Deuce to victory in Tokyo. The 53-year-old put his horse at the back of the field after a slow start and took aim at the leaders in the home straight. Do Deuce responded with a sustained attack on the outside, fending off the fast Equinox by a neck.
Take said, "This is a really emotional experience for me and I couldn`t be happier. My stallion is not such a good starter but we were able to get into an ideal position so the fast pace didn`t bother me.
"In the last turn he had so much left in the tank. When I called for his run, he reacted amazingly and took the lead earlier than planned, which he defended well until the end. It`s so wonderful to win in front of a full grandstand - you can`t be a jockey and not dream of having that moment." Favourite Danon Beluga only finished fourth, while Japanese 2,000 Guineas winner Geoglyph was seventh.
Do Deuce won the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity as a youngster and finished third in the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) on his last start. His trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said, "I was relieved as I had a lot of confidence in the horse. I have admired Yutaka for a long time and I am happy to win the Derby with him. A trip to Europe could be the next destination for Take and the son of Heart`s Cry as he is entered in both the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe.
Tomomichi said, "After the Satsuki Sho, it was decided that we would take him to France in the autumn if he had a good result in the Derby. When I went there with Makahiki, I was frustrated, so somehow I want to fulfil the long-held wish of a Japanese victory [in the Arc] with this horse."
Makahiki won the Prix Niel but could only finish a disappointing 14th out of 16 behind Found. Take added: "The Arc should be a strong option for the owner and will probably be our next target."
