Yutaka Take Captures Arima Kinen on Do Deuce

Mark Smith - Sunday December 24

The winner of the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at two and Japanese Derby at three, Do Deuce (JPN) earned a Group 1 in the dying days of 2023 when guided by Yutaka Take to victory in Sunday's Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (2500m) at Nakayama.

Stalking the pace set by Titleholder, Do Deuce and the 4-year-old mare Stars On Earth settled down to a stirring duel in the world's biggest betting race.

The Yasuo Tomomichi-trained son of Heart's Cry maintained his advantage to defeat the Duramente mare by a half-length with a length back to the gallant Titleholder (Duramente) in third.

A win by either Stars On Earth or Titleholder would have made the race for leading sire interesting, as the sadly missed Duramente is within striking distance of Lord Kanaloa.

An acceptor for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2022 and Dubai Turf in March ended in disaster for Do Deuce when beating one home at Longchamp while he did not make it to the start at Meydan after being ruled out with lameness.

Do Deuce reserves his best for home turf and was coming off a fourth to Equinox in the Japan Cup.

Bred by Northern Farm, Do Deuce is the best of six winners from as many to race from Dust and Diamonds (Vindication), a Grade II winner in America who was second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Katsumi Yoshida shelled out for $1 million for Dust and Diamonds, in foal to Pioneerof the Nile, at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Dust and Diamonds has a yearling colt by Real Steel (JPN), a weanling filly by Silver State (JPN), and was covered by Contrail (JPN).