BRINGING ASIAN RACING TO THE WORLD
The first leg of the colts' Triple Crown has been run and won, pushing a worthy new leader to the top of the board as five previously unranked three-year-olds enter the top 18.
19 April 2023
Asian Racing Report’s 2023 Tokyo Yushun Rankings have a new number one seed following Sunday’s spectacular G1 Satsuki Sho at Nakayama.
Devastating winner Sol Oriens – highly rated by our expert panel from the outset as the number two pick in the original rankings – now takes top billing, as the incumbent Dolce More tumbles down the board following an inglorious showing at Nakayama on April 8.
Last year’s G1 Hopeful Stakes winner and inaugural rankings-topper slid all the way down to slot 12 following the 1.7 favourite’s failure in the G2 New Zealand Trophy, in which Naosuke Sugai’s colt led the field before being swamped late. He is expected to next step out in the NHK Mile on May 7.
Formerly ninth-rated Chance The Roses drops off the board after succumbing to injury, as does former number ten seed Danon The Tiger.
Five previously unranked horses (profiled below) have also entered the top 18 as our panel continue to assess Japan’s best colts in their pursuit of Derby glory at Tokyo on May 28.
The 2400m G2 Aoba Sho on April 29 will shed further light on the rankings, with highly-rated trio Skilfing, Open Fire and Lord Del Rey set to be among the colts putting their staying credentials on the line in the ‘last chance’ Derby qualifier.
Trainer: Naosuke Sugai
Owner: Tetsuhide Kunimoto
Sire: Silver State
Shonan Bashitto came into the G1 Satsuki Sho boasting some winning form, having finished first in three of his four previous starts (his only defeat a second behind Shazzan in the Sumire Stakes). That didn’t stop the son of Silver State being sent out a 48.0 chance in the first leg of the colts’ Triple Crown but he ran well above expectation, finishing resolutely for fifth.
Trainer: Makoto Saito
Owner: Him Rock Racing Holdings Co. Ltd.
Sire: Silver State
Another Silver State colt in Metal Speed was sent around at triple figures in the G1 Satsuki Sho but again did enough to beat home many of his more fancied rivals, and just like Shonan Bashitto booked his ticket to the Derby by earning priority as one of the first five over the line. One of the more experienced Tokyo Yushun aspirants with four starts to his name as a two-year-old and another four as a three-year-old.
Metal Speed has entered Derby calculations after finishing fourth in the G1 Satsuki Sho. (Photo by @daiwa_major_14)
Trainer: Yasuo Tomomichi
Owner: Kaneko Makoto Holdings Co. Ltd.
Sire: Lord Kanaloa
Already a Listed winner of 2200 metres, Shazzan was one of the few behind Sol Oriens to make significant ground in the Satsuki Sho, although the winner did go straight past him. The first foal of G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Queens Ring, Shazzan won’t be out of place in the Tokyo Yushun but will have his work cut out turning the tables on the favourite.
Lord Kanaloa colt Shazzan. (Photo by @toproad_stream)
Trainer: Takashi Kubota
Owner: Yutaka Uda
Sire: Duramente
Season Rich was last seen winning the G3 Mainichi Hai at Hanshin on March 25, so taking full advantage of the failure of 2.0 favourite King’s Reign. The son of Duramente showed courage and determination to keep finding when crowded for clear galloping room in the straight, before taking a split and staving off the late challenge of Nocking Point.
Trainer: Mitsumasa Nakauchida
Owner: Lord Horse Club Co. Ltd.
Sire: Lord Kanaloa
This colt is shaping as a bit of a Derby dark horse, having won his only two career starts in an impressive fashion this season. Hugely impressive in a Tokyo Newcomer back in January, Lord Del Rey ran right up to his debut to take out the 1800m Tsubaki Sho at Hanshin, flattening out strongly when asked to by Ryusei Sakai before the jockey was kind to him late. Big watch runner.
1. Sol Oriens ソールオリエンス ⬆️
2. Phantom Thief ファントムシーフ ⬆️
3. Tastiera タスティエーラ ⬆️
4. Shonan Bashitto ショウナンバシット 🚨⬆️
5. Metal Speed メタルスピード 🚨⬆️
6. Dura Erede ドゥラエレーデ ⬇️
7. Shazzan シャザーン ⬆️
8. Top Knife トップナイフ ⬇️
9. Hrimfaxi フリームファクシ ⬇️
10. Skilfing スキルヴィング ⬆️
11. Open Fire オープンファイア ⬇️
12. Dolce More ドルチェモア ⬇️
13. Bellagio Opera ベラジオオペラ ⬇️
14. Season Rich シーズンリッチ 🚨⬆️
15. Touch Wood タッチウッド ⬆️
16. Lord Del Rey ロードデルレイ🚨⬆️
17. Meiner Laulea マイネルラウレア ⬇️
18. One Direct ワンダイレクト ⬇️
Sol Oriens is another feather in Kitasan Black’s cap
