Classic rematch for Darlington Hall in G1 Tokyo Yushun

Darlington Hall lines up against the best of this year’s three-year-olds in Japan for a second time in the G1 Tokyo Yushun, the Japanese Derby, on Sunday.

The New Approach colt steps up to a mile and a half following a staying-on sixth under Mirco Demuro in the mile G1 Satsuki Sho, the Japanese 2,000 Guineas, at Nakayama on Sunday, 19 April – a race in which Contrail edged out Salios in a thrilling finish.

Darlington Hall started his campaign with a game success in the nine-furlong G3 Kyodo News Hai at Tokyo in February and made three juvenile appearances for trainer Tetsuya Kimura, including a third in the G3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes.

Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “We are excited about Darlington Hall running in the Derby. Contrail and Salios are both exceptional horses and deservedly will have the lion’s share of fan support but the Godolphin horse is capable at least of making the frame.

“He is a big scopey horse and we believe that the long uphill straight finish in Tokyo will suit him. Though his preparation for the G1 Satsuki Sho (2,000 Guineas) was somewhat interrupted, he nevertheless acquitted himself adequately by finishing sixth of the 18 runners. He has had no interruptions in his preparation this time round and we believe he can improve on his last performance.

“His trainer, Tetsuya Kimura, is normally very taciturn and guarded in his pre-race comments but I have rarely seen him more animated and effusive than when he talked about Darlington Hall following an exciting piece of work earlier this week.

“He is in his best condition ever” was the succinct summary of the Miho-based trainer.

“Mirco Demuro will be riding Darlington Hall for the second time this weekend and we expect to see the pair being a bit more prominent early on. Darlington Hall is drawn in stall nine, which is ideal.

“It is not easy to have a runner in the Japanese Derby as all runners need to earn a starting berth. Indeed, this is only the third time for Godolphin to have a runner in the Japanese Derby, so we are really excited.”

Sunday’s card at Tokyo also features the G2 Meguro Kinen over an extended mile and a half, in which African Gold (Masato Nishizono/Yuichi Fukunaga) aims for a first Group-race victory.

The five-year-old ran two excellent races at Tokyo at the end of last season, decisively winning the 12-furlong Rokusha Stakes and finishing third in the G2 Copa Republica Argentina, run over the same trip as the Meguro Kinen. African Gold also ran at Tokyo on his latest start on Saturday, 9 May, when he finished down the field in the 12-furlong Listed Metropolitan Stakes.

Harry Sweeney said: “The G2 Meguro Kinen is a $1,000,000 handicap and is the traditional curtain-closer in Tokyo on Derby Day. Indeed, it is the only time in the entire JRA racing calendar when two Graded races are run on the same card. Being Derby Day, it is a very competitive race and as usual this year has attracted a full gate of 18 runners. The top weight, Stay Foolish, also a five-year-old, will be carrying 57.5kg and African Gold will carry 55kg.

“African Gold was soon out of gas in his last start and will certainly need the weight allowance if he is to be competitive. He will need everything to go his way.

“African Gold’s last win was in Tokyo and he was ridden on that occasion by Yuichi Fukunaga who will again be on board. Yuichi Fukunaga will be riding Contrail, the odds-on favourite in the Derby, which is the previous race, so he will either be absolutely elated or totally deflated by the time he is legged-up on our horse. I hope he will be able to give his best.”