Japan: Durezza takes Japanese St. Leger in graded stakes debut

Even as a 2-year-old in Japan in 2022, Durezza thrived at longer distances, winning a maiden race at 1 1/4 miles last November.

This year, the theme is unchanged. Durezza is unbeaten in four starts at 1 1/4 miles or farther, the most recent of which was the Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at about 1 15/16 miles at Kyoto Racecourse on Sunday.

Durezza ($20.30) had his graded stakes debut in the $2.79 million Japanese St. Leger, the third race in the country’s Triple Crown.

Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Durezza led early, and stalked the pace after five furlongs. Durezza remained near the front to the final quarter-mile when he took the lead, pulling away to win by 3 1/2 lengths over 9-2 Tastiera, the winner of the Japanese Derby in May.

Sol Oriens, winner of the Japanese 2000 Guineas in April, finished third as the 6-5 favorite, beaten five lengths.

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The Japanese 2000 Guineas and Japanese Derby were the first two divisions of the Triple Crown.

In Sunday’s race, Lemaire said Durezza began the race with ample energy.

“He made a flying start and was keen to go, so I decided to let him take the lead,” Lemaire told Japan Racing Association publicity. “He responded well (on the turn) which made me confident that he was going to close strongly.

“When he accelerated in the stretch, I knew we were going to win.”

Durezza, by Duramente, has won 5 of 6 starts. He finished third in his debut in a maiden race for unraced 2-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles in September 2022, and has not been beaten since. Earlier this year, Durezza won three allowance races at distances ranging from 1 1/4 miles to 1 3/8 miles.

Owned by Carrot Farm Co., Ltd., Durezza is trained by Tomohito Ozeki.

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