Japan: Rousham Park, Shahryar top Arima Kinen after Do Deuce’s withdraw

The Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan on Sunday lost its leading name Friday when Do Deuce was withdrawn because of lameness.

Do Deuce had won the Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse in November and was scheduled to have his final start before going to stud in the $6.1 million Arima Kinen at 1 9/16 miles. Do Deuce won the 2024 Arima Kinen.

With Do Deuce absent, the leading contenders for the Arima Kinen are Rousham Park and Shahryar, who were second and third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, and the 2024 Japanese Grade 1 winners Danon Decile and Urban Chic.

Rousham Park closed from last of 13 at 22-1 to finish a half-length behind race favorite Rebel’s Romance in the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles. Shahryar closed from eighth in the final furlong to finish third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

Last December, Shahryar was fifth in the Arima Kinen, losing by 1 3/4 lengths.

Danon Decile and Urban Chic are both 3 and have had mixed results in recent starts. Danon Decile won the Japanese Derby in May, paying $155.40 in American pools and going off at 45-1 in Japan. He was sixth in his only subsequent start, finishing behind race winner Urban Chic in the Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles at Kyoto on Oct. 20.

Urban Chic, who was 11th in the Japanese Derby, starts in the Arima Kinen on the strength of his win in the Japanese St. Leger and the Grade 2 Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen at 1 3/8 miles at Nakayama on Sept. 16.

The Arima Kinen drew a field of 15, including Stars on Earth, who was second in the 2024 Arima Kinen but seventh in the Japan Cup last month, and Prognosis, who was second in the Group 1 Cox Plate in Australia in October.

The Arima Kinen has a post time of 1:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, or 10:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

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