Japan: Danon Decile notches big surprise in Japanese Derby

Danon Decile, a late scratch from the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas in April because of unsoundness, provided a shock result at 76-1 with a win in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.

Danon Decile paid $155.40 in American pools. He was the 45-1 ninth choice in a field of 17 in Japan in the $3.89 million Japanese Derby.

Ridden by 56-year-old Norihiro Yokoyama, Danon Decile had a ground-saving trip through 1 1/2 miles on turf.

The colt stalked pacesetter Ecoro Walz while racing on the inside for the first mile. Sixth with a half-mile remaining, Danon Decile moved closer to the front when the field reached the stretch with about three furlongs remaining. Closing steadily, Danon Decile took the lead a furlong from the finish, and pulled clear to win by two lengths over even-money favorite Justin Milano.

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“I thought the pace would be normal or slow since there were no horses that wanted to set the pace,” Yokoyama told Japan Racing Association publicists. “As Ecoro Walz took the front, we were able to wait in good position until the straight, and the horse responded strongly from there.”

Yokoyama became the oldest jockey in history to win a Japan Racing Association Grade 1 race in the Japanese Derby. Danon Decile was his third win in the Japanese Derby, a race formally known as the Tokyo Yushun, and first since 2014.

“I’m happy to have won the derby, but I’m also glad that my decision to not race him in the (Japanese 2000 Guineas) was not wrong,” he said. “Danon Decile is a horse with great potential, and we knew that he would be a great horse if we took good care of him.”

Justin Milano, the winner of the Japanese 2000 Guineas, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Shin Emperor. Justin Milano was beaten for the first time in his fourth start.

Shin Emperor, a full-brother to 2020 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass, was fifth in the 2000 Guineas last month.

Sixpence, another previously unbeaten colt in his first three starts, finished ninth in the Japanese Derby.

Danon Decile, by Epiphaneia, is owned by Danox Co., Ltd., and trained by Shogo Yasuda.

Danon Decile, who has won 3 of 5 starts, was fourth behind Shin Emperor in the Grade 3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Kyoto Racecourse last November in his final start of 2023, and won his only previous start this year in the Grade 3 Keisei Hai Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama Racecourse on Jan. 14.

Danon Decile is out of the Congrats mare Top Decile, who was second in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita. Top Decile was later sold for $950,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale by Shadai Farm of Japan.

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