Tag Archive for: Yutaka Take

Do Deuce gives Yutaka Take fifth Japan Cup triumph

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Europe’s barren run in the Japan Cup continued as home favourite Do Deuce came out on top in a three-way late battle at Tokyo racecourse.

Yutaka Take settled his mount at the back of the field early on and was forced to swing wide when making a forward move around the home turn.

However, Do Deuce quickened up in fine fashion to hit the front a furlong out and kept on well enough to fend off the fast-finishing Shin Emperor and Durezza, who dead-heated for second a neck behind.

Yasuo Tomomichi’s five-year-old flopped in the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after edging out Equinox in that year’s Japanese Derby.

His form had been up and down since then, but victory in last month’s Tenno Sho had established him as the one to beat in the Japan Cup and he duly gave 55-year-old jockey Take a record fifth success in the race.

Shin Emperor was an excellent third to Economics in September’s Irish Champion Stakes before disappointing in this year’s Arc, while William Buick’s mount Durezza was fifth behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International back in August.

It is almost two decades since Alkaased struck in Japan’s biggest race for Luca Cumani and Frankie Dettori, while the likes of Falbrav, Pilsudski, Singspiel and Jupiter Island had prevailed before him.

King George hero Goliath fared best of the European raiders this time in sixth, with Aidan O’Brien’s six-time Group One winner Auguste Rodin back in eighth on his final start and Germany’s Fantastic Moon 11th.

“As was the case before his victory in the last Tenno Sho (Autumn), he was extremely calm, even more so than last time, throughout when he was in the saddling area, the paddock and then the post parade, so I was very optimistic today,” said winning trainer Tomomichi.

“The race itself unfolded with no one wanting to set a solid pace, as expected to a certain extent but resulting in a very slow pace, around 62 seconds in the first 1,000 meters. Take seemed to struggle to settle him down so I was a bit worried watching him go along the backstretch.

“In contrast to how the race went in the Tenno Sho, Do Deuce ended up having to lead much earlier at the stretch this time and having to fend off challenges from behind and sustain his lead to the wire, so I had to hold my breath until the very end.

“This horse gets better with every start – I had thought that his last start was very much his best performance but he even exceeded that in the Japan Cup – so if his condition allows for another start, I hope that he is able to show his very best in his final Arima Kinen.”

Take is one of the most famous names in Japanese racing and was lifting his nation’s most coveted prize for the fifth time, with Auguste Rodin’s illustrious sire Deep Impact amongst his Japan Cup heroes.

He has formed a fine relationship with Do Deuce over the past few years and was thrilled with the way the race panned out.

Yutaka Take has enjoyed a great career
Yutaka Take has enjoyed a great career (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Take said: “The positioning during the race went as planned. It was expected, but the pace was extremely slow and I had to struggle keeping him in hand.

“In the first half a mile, if the pace was to quicken more, then I was planning to stay back, but it didn’t, so I let him gradually make headway along the outside, not so much as to quicken and close the gap, but to release the reins a little bit.

“Making ground from the last corner, his speed was so great that he was already in front in an instant and after that a normal horse would be worn out and pinned down, but this horse is exceptional and while I wasn’t sure that I’d won until the end, I kept believing he would stay and he did.”

He went on: “His retirement from racing is already decided and I was told that the last three Grade One starts – the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen – would be his final starts.

“He certainly finished strongly in his first two this fall and, of course depending on his condition after this race, I look forward to riding him in the Arima Kinen.

“The Japan Cup this year was fortunate to have great runners from overseas to raise the quality of this race and I feel privileged to have won in such company and sincerely hope that the race will go on to be recognised as a leader within the world of racing.”

Japanese support growing ahead of Al Riffa’s Arc date

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Joseph O’Brien is appreciative of all the support he has received from Japan as Al Riffa prepares to tackle the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

So far Europe’s richest middle-distance prize has eluded Japanese raiders, with both Nakayama Festa (2010) and Orfevre (2012 and 2013) both silver medallists in recent years and Through Seven Seas fourth behind Ace Impact 12 months ago.

This year it is Irish Champion Stakes third Shin Emperor who will primarily carry Japanese hopes, but O’Brien’s four-year-old has a distinct connection with Masaaki Matsushima part of the ownership and decorated Japanese jockey Yutaka Take taking the ride.

O’Brien finished no better than fifth in the Arc during his career in the saddle, but hopes improve on that with Al Riffa, in what he regards “as big a race as there is anywhere in the world”.

Trainer Joseph O’Brien dreams of winning the Arc with Al Riffa
Trainer Joseph O’Brien dreams of winning the Arc with Al Riffa (Niall Carson/PA)

“We have definitely had lots of well wishes from Japan and especially on social media we’ve had plenty of messages wishing us luck,” said O’Brien.

“It’s a pleasure to have the support of plenty of Japanese racing fans and hopefully we can do them proud at the weekend.

“It’s as big a race as there is anywhere in the world and it would rank right at the top as good as any if we could win it. I’m very happy to be going there with a live chance and hopefully the horse does us proud.”

Al Riffa’s big-race pilot Take is no stranger to riding in the ParisLongchamp feature and has visited O’Brien’s Owning Hill base to put the son of Wootton Bassett through his paces.

O’Brien continued: “Take is a legendary jockey with lots of experience riding in the Arc. He came to Ireland to sit on the horse last week and they seemed to have a very good relationship.

“It’s a real pleasure for me to have Yutaka riding Al Riffa and we have really felt the good wishes from all of Japan since their involvement in the horse. It’s special.”

Al Riffa is as short as 8-1 for Arc glory following his five-length success in the Grosser Preis von Berlin in August.

That was just his second Group One victory, but he has long been a consistent operator at the higher levels and his handler hopes he can follow in the footsteps of Danedream, who won the Hoppegarten event in 2011 before striking in the French capital.

“I think it is probably fair to say he has been slightly underrated,” added O’Brien.

“Even though he has won two Group Ones he has also ran some outstanding races and, to be quite honest, has run quite well almost every time.

“I think since Germany everybody has appreciated him and he has been spoken about as a live contender for the Arc, so that is really great for the horse and I’m proud to have a horse like him.

“To win a race like the Arc would be so special but we’re just hoping to run a good race, be competitive and then we’ll see what will happen on the day.”

Al Riffa has showcased his skills in a variety of conditions, leaving connections feeling at ease heading into the weekend’s showpiece contest.

O’Brien said: “Soft ground isn’t a disadvantage. He has handled a variety of conditions well in the past.

“When he was behind Ace Impact last year (at Deauville) it was pretty firm, but when he won his Group One as a two-year-old it was quite soft.

“We always thought he was a horse that would suit the Arc as he had the speed to run over shorter distances and he had lots of stamina in his pedigree.

“So we always thought potentially he was a horse for this, it’s been in the back of our mind for some time.”