Croix du Nord rebounds with victory in Japanese Derby

Croix du Nord, Japan’s champion 2-year-old male of 2024, avenged his lone career loss in the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas in April with a win in the nation’s leading race for 3-year-olds – Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.

Ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, Croix du Nord stalked early pacesetter Satono Shining and then Ho O Atman, who pulled well clear on the backstretch. In early stretch, Ho O Atman faded from contention, leaving Satono Shining and Croix du Nord in a brief duel. Croix du Nord, who was favored in American pools and paid $5.50, took the lead with less than a quarter-mile remaining and won by three-quarters of a length over 6-1 Masquerade Ball, who closed well.

Shohei (8-1) finished third in the field of 18, catching Satono Shining in the final strides. With a purse of $4.32 million, the Japanese Derby is the country’s richest race for 3-year-olds.

Croix du Nord has won 4 of 5 starts, including the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at 1 1/4 miles last December, a victory that clinched his championship.

“I felt it was my responsibility to make Croix du Nord a derby winner ever since the colt won the Hopeful Stakes, so my feeling now is that I am relieved to have accomplished (the) mission,” Kitamura told Japan Racing Association publicity.

“The colt felt great today and I was able to come into the race with confidence, 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.”

By Kitasan Black, Croix du Nord races for Sunday Racing Co., Ltd., and trainer Takashi Saito. In the Japanese 2000 Guineas at Nakayama Racecourse on April 20, Croix du Nord was second by a half-length to Museum Mile, who was fifth in the Japanese Derby.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.