Danon Decile is poised to become just the second horse to win the Japanese Derby-Japanese St Leger double in the past 51 years when he returns at Kyoto racecourse on Sunday.
The Epiphaneia colt hasn’t raced since scoring an upset win at 46-1 in the Derby, the Group One Tokyo Yushun (2,400m), on May 26, but he is tipped to be far more popular with punters in Sunday’s St Leger, otherwise known as the Group One Kikuka Sho (3,000m).
While multiple horses have won Japan’s Triple Crown, only one has claimed the Derby-St Leger double – Take Hope in 1973.
Trainer Shogo Yasuda himself breezed Danon Decile up the hill course at Ritto on Wednesday in a time of 54.2 seconds over 800m, with a final 200m in 13.1 seconds.
【🇯🇵 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1), Tokyo, 2400m, 3yo No Geldings, approx US$ 4.32m】
— JRA World Racing (@JRA_WorldRacing) May 26, 2024
Winner: Danon Decile(JPN)
J: Norihiro Yokoyama
T: Shogo Yasuda
Sire: Epiphaneia
Dam: Top Decile#東京優駿 （ #日本ダービー ） は、#ダノンデサイル が優勝！！ pic.twitter.com/07ri89HM9z
“We were able to get through it without him getting excited and I had to soothe him far less than I had to before the Derby,” Yasuda said.
Yasuda said the big chestnut has thrived since his Derby triumph.
“I figured this summer would be a hot one,” he said.
“And I thought giving him a prep [run] could prove too much for his races to follow. Despite the time between here and the Derby, he has got a lot of work and his preparation for the Kikuka Sho, even without a race in between, will be convincing.
“He’s always had a big frame but he didn’t have that much flesh on him. Now he’s not only grown taller, but he has filled out.”
Danon Decile, winner of the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), headlines Sunday's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). pic.twitter.com/9bA8F4ysk6
— IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) October 17, 2024
Jockey Norihiro Yokoyama has also noticed the change in Danon Decile and expects the step up to 3,000m to suit his mount on Sunday.
“He has really got taller. His body is magnificent,” he said.
“I had a hard time even getting him to stop after the Derby and I’d thought even then that he would be better with more ground. I’m really looking forward to the race.”
Yokoyama is chasing his first victory in the Kikuka Sho since 1998 when he led all the way on Seiun Sky.
Some of Danon Decile’s key rivals in the capacity field of 18 include last-start Grade Two Asahi Hai St Lite Kinen (2,200m) winner Urban Chic, Grade Two Kobe Shimbun Hai (2,200m) victor Meisho Tabaru, Cosmo Kuranda and Redentor.
