Croix du Nord validates championship in Japan derby

Post-time favorite Croix du Nord validated his 2024 Hopeful Stakes (G1) victory that stamped him as the season’s best 2-year-old colt and a potential Grade 1, middle-distance runner. He rose atop Japan’s 7,950 registered 3-year-olds Sunday by conquering the 92nd US$4,512,106 Tokyo Yushun (G1), the derby at Tokyo Racecourse and the second leg of the nation’s Triple Crown.

Trained by Takashi Saito, Croix du Nord (1-1) broke smoothly from post 13, shifted closer to the inside and secured a prominent position in fourth place behind Satono Shining (11-1), who was rushed to the front in his bid to lead the 18-horse field. He then gave way to Ho O Atman (231-1) turning onto the backstretch. Jockey Yuichi Kitamura kept his mount in good rhythm as Ho O Atman increased his lead from the rest of the field by nearly 10 lengths.

The race began in earnest as Ho O Atman, who eventually finished 11th, weakened at the three-sixteenths pole. That was where Croix du Nord came powerfully down the middle of the track to duel with Satono Shining before drawing away at the eighth pole. Croix du Nord then held off a powerful chase by Masquerade Ball (5-1) and Shohei (13-1) to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I felt it was my responsibility to make Croix du Nord a Derby winner ever since the colt won the Hopeful Stakes, so my feeling now is that I am relieved to have accomplished by mission,” Kitamura said. “The whole process since the win last year including our runner-up effort in the Satsuki Sho (G1) was a meaningful and precious learning experience for me.”

Masquerade Ball closed from mid-pack to finish second, Shohei stalked the pace to come in third, and Satono Shining just missed the board settling for fourth.

On good to firm turf, Croix du Nord finished with a time of 2:23.7 without a run-up for the 2,400 meters, 15 yards short of 1 1/2 miles. The early fractions were 24.0, 47.8, 1:12.1, 1:36.7 and 2:00.7.

A son of Kitasan Black, Croix du Nord went 3-for-3 last year including the Hopeful. He kicked off this season April 20 with the Satsuki Sho, the Japanese 2,000 Guineas that opens the Triple Crown series. That was where he was the heavy favorite finishing second to Museum Mile, who finished sixth Sunday as the 9-2 second choice.

While it was the first classic victory for both Saito and Kitamura, owner Sunday Racing notched its record-extending fifth Derby victory.