Japan: Danon Decile back from layoff in Japanese St. Leger

Unbeaten in two starts this year, Danon Decile has struggled to gain respect in Japan’s 3-year-old division.

The winner of the Grade 1 Japanese Derby in a major upset in May, Danon Decile did not race over the summer and will have his comeback in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles on turf at Kyoto Racecourse.

As of Friday, Danon Decile was the second choice in early betting for the $2.83 million Japanese St. Leger behind Urban Chic, who was 11th in the Japanese Derby but rebounded to win the Grade 2 Asahi Hi St. Lite Kinen at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Nakayama on Sept. 16.

The Japanese St. Leger, formally known as the Kikuka Sho, drew a field of 18 colts.

It does not hurt Urban Chic’s status that he will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, the leading rider at Japan Racing Association tracks this year. Lemaire was aboard Urban Chic for the win at Nakayama, the colt’s third win in six starts.

Danon Decile will be ridden by 56-year-old Norihiro Yokoyama, who through Thursday ranked 60th in the standings with 14 wins this year. Lemaire had 142. Yokoyama has been the regular rider of Danon Decile through the colt’s career, which includes three wins in five starts.

Danon Decile won his first start of 2024 in the Grade 3 Keisei Hai at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Nakayama in January. He was scratched from the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas in April because of unsoundness.

In the $3.89 million Japanese Derby, Danon Decile closed from sixth to win by two lengths. He was 45-1 in Japan and paid $155.40 in American pools. Yokoyama became the older rider to win a Grade 1 stakes in Japan in the Japanese Derby.

The Japanese St. Leger will be a stamina test. All 18 entrants are starting at the distance for the first time.

Contenders Cosmo Kuranda and Meisho Taburu have shown clues they can handle longer races.

Cosmo Kuranda was second in the Japanese 2000 Guineas at 1 1/4 miles, sixth in the Japanese Derby, and second to Urban Chic at Nakayama on Sept. 16.

Meisho Taburu was scratched from the Japanese Derby because of a bruised foot and won the Grade 2 Shimbun Hai at 1 3/8 miles at Kyoto on Sept. 22.

The Japanese St. Leger has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern Sunday, or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

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