Lovcen keeps his Triple Crown dream alive

Credit: JRA

Lovcen has won the prestigious Tokyo Yushun in dramatic fashion, diving right on the line to beat Peintre Naif by a head and claim the Double Crown (Satsuki Sho and Tokyo Yushun). Lovcen is the 25th horse to win the Double Crown and the first since Contrail in 2020.

Lovcen jumped from barrier 17 of an 18 horse field, jockey Kohei Matsuyama faced a daunting task to find a position for the pre-race favourite. Displaying immense patience, Matsuyama managed to settle the colt within the midfield pack, tracking three deep with cover. 

Second favourite, Realize Sirius, set the tempo from the outset. However, the complexion of the race shifted dramatically halfway down the backstretch when Basse Terre was set alight from the rear, looping the entire field to challenge Realize Sirius for the lead. 

As they cornered for home, Realize Sirius attempted to skip away, but the leader was quickly swallowed up by a chasing wall of horses. While Basse Terre briefly emerged at the front, a thrilling duel was unfolding down the centre of the track. 

Peintre Naif was the first to surge into the lead, but Lovcen was hot on his heels. With every stride, the favourite clawed back the deficit, but the finishing post was approaching rapidly. In a final desperate effort, Matsuyama drove and lifted Lovcen to the line, forcing the colt’s head in front of Peintre Naif in the final stride to snatch a historic victory. 

For Matsuyama, it was his first Japanese Derby and was in complete disbelief following his historic feat.

“I still can’t honestly believe that Kohei Matsuyama has become a Derby-winning jockey”, Matsuyama said with a smile.

“When I was coming back after the race, tears just naturally came out. Usually, I cry when I’m sad, but I’m not really the type to cry when I’m happy, but this time the emotions just overflowed naturally.”

Matsuyama then gave his recount of the race, breaking down everything that he saw unfold. 

“We ended up farther back than I expected, but I switched my thinking during the race and rode with the belief that he would produce his kick at the end.”

Providing Lovcen comes through the Japanese Derby unscathed, he will target the Kikuka Sho in hopes of becoming the ninth horse to win the Japanese Triple Crown.