7.40 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Group 1) 1m 4f

DESPITE meeting defeat last time out in the Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas), Croix Du Nord is still considered the horse to beat in tomorrow’s Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).

This year marks the 92nd running of the second leg of Japan’s Triple Crown, with a field of 18 over the mile and a half, including 10 contenders who have already landed graded race wins.

Winner at two of the Group 1 Hopeful Stakes, Croix Du Nord was the Japan Racing Association’s best two-year-old colt for 2024 after an unbeaten three-race campaign.

However, he was beaten in the first classic by a length and a half by Museum Mile. Croix Du Nord, a son of Kitasan Black, worked pleasingly under jockey Yuichi Kitamura mid-week.

“It was a difficult schedule getting him ready for the Satsuki Sho,” his trainer Takashi Saito said to media this week. “Compared to the Satsuki Sho, he is in much better shape, both mentally and physically.”

The first five in the 2000 Guineas, including the winner Museum Mile, are in opposition again with Damian Lane in the saddle.

Museum Mile, a son of Leontes caught Croix De Nord in the last 100m in the 10-furlong 2000 Guineas, and won under Joao Moreira by a margin of a length and a half. He also had the benefit of a previous run this season in that contest. This time the key will be how well he can handle his first time on the big occasion at Tokyo, and the extra distance.

The Satsuki Sho third-place finisher Masquerade Ball returns to Tokyo for what will be his third time.

It’ll be the first time for the Duramente colt to race over anything longer than 10 furlongs, but trainer Takahisa Tezuka thinks the track will be in his favour.

Fourth in the 2000 Guineas, the Epiphaneia-sired Giovanni completes the first classic’s top finishers.

The 2000 Guineas fifth-place finisher Satono Shining (by Kizuna, Derby winner in 2013) and unbeaten Group 3 winner Fandom (by Saturnalia) are two others gaining a good deal of attention, with the former bidding to give veteran rider Yutaka Take his seventh Derby win, while Fandom’s Hiroshi Kitamura aims for his first.

Winner of three races from his September debut last year, Fandom would be the 12th horse to win the Derby unbeaten. Christophe Lemaire rides a dark horse in Shohei, who has raced only at Kyoto and comes off a Group 2 win.