Japan: Do Deuce runs away with Horse of the Year voting

Do Deuce, winner of the Grade 1 Japan Cup in November, was honored as Japan’s Horse of the Year and leading older colt or horse for 2024 in awards announced earlier this week.

Do Deuce, now 6, finished his accomplished career with consecutive Grade 1 wins, beginning with the autumn running of the Tenno Sho Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on Oct. 27. The Japan Cup turned out to be his final start. Do Deuce, by Heart’s Cry, was withdrawn because of lameness from the Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama in the days before the race was run on Dec. 22.

Do Deuce, who raced for Kieffers Co., Ltd., and trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, won 8 of 16 starts, including five Grade 1 races. He was the champion 2-year-old colt of 2021 in Japan and later won the Grade 1 Japanese Derby in 2022 and 2023 Arima Kinen.

Overall, 11 horses were honored for championship seasons in 2024 in a vote of Japanese journalists.

Among 2-year-olds, Arma Veloce and Croix du Nord, winners of Grade 1 races in December, were named outstanding filly and outstanding colt.

Danon Decile, winner of the Japanese Derby, was honored as champion 3-year-old colt, while Cervinia, who won the Grade 1 Japanese Oaks, was the top 3-year-old filly.

Stunning Rose was recognized as champion older female for a campaign that included a win in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

The titles for champion sprinter and miler were separated in 2024. Lugal, winner of the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes in September, was champion sprinter, while Soul Rush was top miler on the strength of his win in the Grade 1 Mile Championship at Kyoto in November.

The Kentucky-bred Lemon Pop, by Lemon Drop Kid, was champion dirt horse. He won the Grade 1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse in December in his final start before going to stud this year.

Nishino Daisy, an 8-year-old in 2024, was named champion steeplechase after a Grade 1 win at Nakayama on Dec. 21.

Forever Young, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar in November, was given a special award for his achievements. He was a Grade 1 winner in Japan in 2024 on the major Japan Racing Association circuit, and a stakes winner in December on the regional circuit.

Prior to the Kentucky Derby, Forever Young gained international prominence earlier this year with wins in the Group 3 Saudi Derby, a $1.5 million race at a mile, in Saudi Arabia in February; and the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby, a $1 million race at 1 3/16 miles in Dubai on March 30.

In Horse of the Year balloting, Do Deuce had 236 votes, followed by Forever Young with 19 and one for Lemon Pop.

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