Photo: Japan Racing Association. In a thrilling display of racing prowess, Do Deuce, the post-time favorite coming off his autumn Tenno Sho (G1) victory, achieved an astonishing win in the 44th running of the Grade 1, US$7 million Japan Cup. Covering 1 1/2 miles on the left-handed turf track at Tokyo Racecourse, Do Deuce closed from last place among the 14-horse field to emerge victorious by a neck.

Jockey Yutaka Take's Record-Breaking Wins

Jockey Yutaka Take extended his remarkable record for Japan Cup wins to five. His earlier triumphs came with Special Week in 1999, Deep Impact in 2006, Rose Kingdom in 2010, and Kitasan Black in 2016. This latest win added to his 83rd Japan Grade 1 victory, solidifying his status as a legendary jockey in Japanese racing.Do Deuce, a 5-year-old entire, has now achieved five Grade 1 victories. In addition to the Japan Cup, he won the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes in 2021, the Tokyo Yushun or Japanese Derby in 2022, and the Arima Kinen in 2023. Each of these victories showcases Do Deuce's exceptional talent and determination.

Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi's Success

Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi earned his 21st Grade 1 win and his second Japan Cup trophy. His previous win with Cheval Grand in 2017 added to his growing list of achievements. The training team's efforts played a crucial role in preparing Do Deuce for this momentous race.During the race, the 14-horse field started without a clear leader. Shin Emperor eventually set a slow pace, and Do Deuce, breaking from stall 3, was unhurried and traveled in the rear. Durezza took the lead, but Do Deuce began to make headway from the outside rounding the second turn and was still well behind and wide.Take unleashed Do Deuce's incredible speed in the final stretch and caught Durezza three-sixteenths of a mile from the finish. He rallied with the stubborn pacesetter and shook him off in the final strides while repelling a determined challenge from Shin Emperor, who finished in a dead heat with Durezza for second.Tomomichi described Do Deuce's demeanor before the race as extremely calm, even more so than in his previous Tenno Sho victory. He was worried during the backstretch as Take struggled to settle the horse. However, Do Deuce's exceptional ability allowed him to lead much earlier at the stretch and fend off challenges to secure the win.Take agreed with Tomomichi about the running order and the unexpectedly slow pace. He had to struggle to keep Do Deuce in hand in the first half-mile, planning to stay back if the pace quickened. But when it didn't, he let Do Deuce make headway along the outside. Once Do Deuce gained momentum, his speed was astonishing, and he was able to hold off the challenges.Shin Emperor started fast and took the early lead but settled back in third. While the eventual winner and Durezza raced head to head in the stretch, Shin Emperor dug in from the inside with the second fastest speed and caught Durezza at the wire to finish in a dead heat for second.Durezza accelerated from mid-pack to take the lead before the uphill climb in the backstretch but was caught by Do Deuce and then fought back persistently but surrendered in the final strides. Cervinia rated in mid-pack and was passed by Do Deuce with a quarter-mile to go but still managed to finish fourth.Do Deuce's winning time on turf rated good to firm was 2:25.5 for 2,400 meters, about 15 yards short of 1 1/2 miles. Early fractions were 24.1, 50.0, 1:14.5, 1:39.6, and 2:03.6.Bred in Japan by Northern Farm and owned by Kieffers Company, Do Deuce will have one more race before retirement. He is expected to make his last start in the 69th Arima Kinen all-star race on December 22 at Nakayama.“This horse gets better with every start,” Tomomichi said. “I had thought that his last start was very much his best performance, but he even exceeded that in the Japan Cup. If his condition allows for another start, I hope that he is able to show his very best in his final Arima Kinen.”Sunday's 12-race card had an announced attendance of 79,720 and an all-sources handle of US$225,309,874. The Japan Cup alone attracted US$157,435,812 in bets.