Croix du Nord reclaimed his spot as Japan's top 3-year-old with a smooth victory in the June 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1), defeating all his main rivals and avenging his only career defeat.
The Kitasan Black colt got a perfect trip under jockey Yuichi Kitamura. He broke well from the No. 13 gate and hustled up to a stalking position early in the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) second leg of Japan's Triple Crown.
Kitamura gave Croix du Nord his cue early in the uphill stretch climb that defines the Tokyo turf course, and he surged to the lead passing the 300-meter mark. Masquerade Ball came with a late run but fell 3/4 length short of catching the winner. Shohei, entering the Triple Crown fray for the first time, was a good third, and Satono Shining was fourth.
Museum Mile, who relegated Croix du Nord into second in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1), reported sixth after passing tiring rivals. Croix du Nord stopped the timer at 2:23.7 with the turf rated good to firm.
"The colt felt great today and I was able to come into the race with every confidence," Kitamura said. "So victory itself came as no surprise to me.
"The break was smooth and after that, I was concentrating on keeping him in a comfortable rhythm more so than what position he was sitting in. In the stretch run, he responded really well and as I've said, I had every confidence in the colt and drove him on believing that he would make it to the wire a winner."
Croix du Nord was bred by Northern Farm and races for Sunday Racing, which extended its record for most Derby winners to five. Takashi Saito trains the colt.
His dam, Rising Cross, is by Cape Cross.
Croix du Nord won his first two starts in 2024, then stepped up to victory in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) Dec. 28 at Nakayama Racecourse. His 3-0 record earned honors as top 2-year-old of 2024 and saw him off as favorite in the Satsuki Sho, his 3-year-old debut.
That day, however, it was Museum Mile leaving Croix du Nord in his wake with a sharp stretch move to record a mild upset win. Masquerade Ball was third in the Satsuki Sho with Giovanni fourth and Satono Shining fifth. Giovanni finished eighth in the Derby.
With the victory over his primary rivals from the first leg of the Triple Crown, Croix du Nord holds clear sway in the division despite the earlier loss. The third leg of the series, the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) is contested at 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles). The Triple Crown has been claimed only three times, most recently by Contrail in 2020.
Even though the series sweep wasn't on the line, Kitamura said he felt a responsibility to the Croix du Nord team to produce a Derby win.
"I felt it was my responsibility to make Croix du Nord a Derby winner ever since the colt won the Hopeful Stakes," the jockey said. "So my feeling now is that I am relieved to have accomplished my mission. The whole process since the win last year, including our runner-up effort in the Satsuki Sho, was a meaningful and precious learning experience for me."
Saito said before the race he, too, had prepared the colt specifically for the race.
"He's definitely ready and looks better and more filled out than he did for the Satsuki Sho," Saito said. "This has been our goal from his debut and I've given him a rotation that works with this distance."
The good showing by Shohei promises some fun for the remainder of the season. The Saturnalia colt is named for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Otani, a sports icon in Japan, and it would be surprising if a cross-sport cheering section doesn't emerge to support him on the racecourse.
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