BRINGING ASIAN RACING TO THE WORLD
The latest round of rankings for the 2023 Tokyo Yushun, as our expert panel continue to rate Japan's best three-year-olds in their pursuit of Derby glory.
17 March 2023
Asian Racing Report’s 2023 Tokyo Yushun Rankings have undergone their first reshuffle after our expert panel voted to promote last Sunday’s G2 Yayoi Sho winner Tastiera into the top 18.
Previously unranked after two career starts, the Carrot Farm-owned son of Satono Crown’s grinding performance at Nakayama was enough to vault him into fifth place in the rankings for the Derby, the 2400 metre test of speed and stamina set to be run at Tokyo on May 28.
Freakish filly Liberty Island remains a ‘watch’ runner in 12th place, but will no doubt rocket up the rankings should the Mitsumasa Nakauchida camp give any sign of switching focus from the fillies Triple Tiara to take on the boys in the Derby. The last filly to win the Tokyo Yushun was Vodka in 2007, who herself ended a 63-year drought for fillies in the Classic.
This Sunday’s G2 Spring Stakes (1800m) at Nakayama could provide some insight from a Derby rankings perspective, with Seven Magician set to line up. Hearts Concerto also shapes as a runner to watch in Saturday’s Listed Wakaba Stakes (2000m) at Hanshin.
Trainer: Noriyuki Hori
Owner: Carrot Farm
Sire: Satono Crown
Tastiera burst onto the scene as a two-year-old last November to win a Tokyo Newcomer under star jockey Ryan Moore by three-and-a-half lengths, before finishing fourth behind fellow Derby aspirants Phantom Thief, Touch Wood and Danon The Tiger in the G3 Kyodo Tsushin Cup in his first start of 2023. Tastiera showed good staying potential however in taking out the G2 Yayoi Shoi at Nakayama on March 5, taking a while to balance up in the straight before sustaining a long run to prevail by one length over the 2.9 favourite Top Knife, who wasn’t disgraced in second.
1. Dolce More ドルチェモア
2. Sol Oriens ソールオリエンス
3. Phantom Thief ファントムシーフ
4. Hrimfaxi フリームファクシ
5. Tastiera タスティエーラ 🚨
6. Dura Erede ドゥラエレーデ ⬇️
7. Top Knife トップナイフ ⬆️
8. Danon the Tiger ダノンザタイガー ⬇️
9. Open Fire オープンファイア ⬇️
10. King’s Reign キングズレイン ⬇️
11. Chance the Roses チャンスザローゼス ⬇️
12. Liberty Island リバティアイランド ⬇️
13. Meiner Laulea マイネルラウレア ⬇️
14. Gastrique ガストリック ⬆️
15. Skilfing スキルヴィング ⬆️
16. Danon Touchdown ダノンタッチダウン ⬇️
17. Touch Wood タッチウッド ⬇️
18. Seven Magician セブンマジシャン ⬇️
2023 Tokyo Yushun rankings: unbeaten colt rules Derby hierarchy
