Japan: Sixpence edges World's End, Gaia Force in Yasuda Kinen, gains BC Mile berth

In his sixth attempt, the veteran Japanese older horse Sixpence won a Grade 1 race with an ideal trip in Sunday’s $2.16 million Yasuda Kinen for turf milers at Tokyo Racecourse.

Ridden by Yutaka Take, 57, Sixpence stalked pacesetter World’s End for the first seven furlongs, moved alongside the leader in the final strides and won by a neck. World’s End finished in a dead-heat for second with a fast-closing Gaia Force, who closed strongly in the field of 17.

Sixpence was 20-1 in Japanese pools, while World’s End was the 9-5 favorite.

With the win, Sixpence earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Take rode Sixpence for the first time in the Yasuda Kinen.

“I did my homework, contacting his previous riders and, of course, the trainer who told me that he was capable to maintain good speed to the wire,” Take told Japan Racing Association publicity. “My plan was to have him up front, even lead if necessary.”

Take said that in the stretch “Sixpence was very responsive.”

A 5-year-old horse by Kizuna, Sixpence is out of the Kentucky-bred Finley’sluckycharm, a five-time graded stakes winner in 2017 and 2018 who was purchased for $1.5 million by Katsumi Yoshida at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall mixed sale.

Sixpence races for Carrot Farm Co. Ltd., and trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka.

The Yasuda Kinen was Sixpence’s sixth win in 13 starts. In five previous starts in Grade 1 races, Sixpence’s best finish was a seventh in the 2025 Yasuda Kinen. Sunday’s win ended a six-race losing streak since the Grade 2 Nakayama Kinen at 1 1/8 miles at Nakayama in March 2025.

Sixpence won five of his first six races from September 2025 to early March 2025, a streak that included three wins in Grade 2 races, and a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Japanese Derby in May 2024.

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