Tokyo Yūshun Preview

*Croix Du Nord wins the 2025 Tokyo Yushun. Credit:* *Netkeiba*

Held over the classic Derby distance of 2400m, the Tokyo Yūshun is the ultimate test of a thoroughbred's pedigree, stamina, and speed.

Since 1934, this prestigious contest has been staged at the grand Tokyo Racecourse—a venue that boasts a uniquely demanding layout. Featuring a grueling 525m home straight, it dwarfs even Australia's famous Flemington straight, which measures a mere 450m by comparison.

However, what truly sets Tokyo apart is the punishing two-metre elevation rise over 120m in the homestretch. This upward slope is a notorious climb, designed to ruthlessly expose any flaws in a horse's endurance.

The 2026 renewal of the Tokyo Yūshun features a competitive field of 18 runners, headlined by the exciting favourite, Lovcen.

Lovcen

Trainer: Haruki Sugiyama

Jockey: Kohei Matsuyama

Sire: World Premier

Record: 4 starts 3 wins 1 placing

Notable wins: Satsuki Sho (G1) & Hopeful Stakes (G1)

Lovcen enters the Tokyo Yūshun as a heavy favourite, looking to keep his Triple Crown dreams alive. The Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) is traditionally the key pointer for this race, and Lovcen dominated it from the front, leading all the way. Though fiercely pressed down the straight by his chief rival, Realize Sirius, the son of World Premier dug deep to score by three-quarters of a length.

Lovcen possesses immense tactical versatility. Whilst he dictated terms from the front in the Satsuki Sho, he is equally adept at sitting several lengths off the pace before unleashing a lethal turn of foot, as demonstrated in the Hopeful Stakes. As the solitary Group 1 winner in the field, he will be incredibly difficult to beat.

Realize Sirius

Trainer: Takahisa Tezuka

Jockey: Akihide Tsumura

Sire: Poetic Flare

Record: 5 starts 3 wins 1 placing

Notable wins: Kyodo News Hai (G3)

Realize Sirius remains the only horse to have lowered Lovcen’s colours. He did so in the Kyodo News Hai over 1800m, stalking the leader before pouncing in the straight and bravely holding off late challenges from both Lovcen and Bereshit to score by a nose.

While the 2400m trip is uncharted territory for most of this field, it poses a particular question mark for Realize Sirius. Though he headed Lovcen at the top of the straight in the Satsuki Sho, he was unable to sustain that advantage and in the Kyodo News Hai he was fortunate to hang on to the win as his stride began to shorten over the concluding stages. Stepping up from 1800m and 2000m to a testing 2400m, combined with Tokyo’s final hill, will truly test his stamina.

Forte Angelo

Trainer: Yuki Uehara

Jockey: Kiwamu Ogino

Sire: Fierement

Record: 4 starts 1 win 2 placings

Forte Angelo comes into the Tokyo Yūshun as one of the more fascinating runners. As the gates opened in the Satsuki Sho, Forte Angelo reared and as a result missed the jump by several lengths. Ridden hard just to touch hands with the back of the field, he sat well off the pace but caught the eye with a tremendous late rattle to finish an improbable fifth.

Remarkably, he entered that Classic first-up following a break. Whilst many of his rivals arrive here third-up, Forte Angelo should reach peak fitness on his second race start of the campaign. Provided he minds his manners at the barrier and jumps level with the field, he is a major threat in the straight.

Going To Sky

Trainer: Yuki Uehara

Jockey: Yutaka Take

Sire: Contrail

Record: 4 starts 2 wins 1 placings

Notable wins: Tokyo Hai Aoba Sho (G2)

The only horse in the field with proven winning form over the course and distance is Going To Sky. Sired by the 2020 Tokyo Yūshun winner and Triple Crown legend Contrail, he is impeccably bred for the occasion. He also has the assistance of the legendary Yutaka Take, Japan’s most decorated jockey, who seeks a record-extending seventh Japanese Derby victory.

Going To Sky was highly impressive in the Tokyo Hai Aoba Sho (the official Derby trial), settling midfield before effortlessly moving up to hit the front halfway down the straight. He then comfortably repelled a challenge from Tidal Lock to win in a time of 2m 23.00s. For context, that time is faster than the winning time of the last three renewals of the Derby itself. With sectionals, pedigree, and distance boxes all ticked, he makes plenty of appeal.

Congestus

Trainer: Tomokazu Takano

Jockey: Atsuya Nishimura

Sire: Contrail

Record: 3 starts 3 wins

Notable wins: Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G2)

The unbeaten Congestus arrives on the back of a gritty, narrow victory in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai. The Tomokazu Takano trained colt endured a wide, three-deep trip for the majority of the race, yet still showed the resilience to launch a sustained run from midfield.

The primary concern is that he has bypassed the elite-level formlines, missing the Satsuki Sho in favour of this alternative path. The last horse to contest the Kyoto Shimbun Hai and go on to win the Tokyo Yushun was Roger Barows in 2019, who was actually the runner-up in the Kyoto Shimbun Hai.

There is an Aussie touch to this horse, his dam is the 2013 Crown Oaks winner Kirramosa. She was a great stayer herself, so there is no question that Congestus is bred to handle the testing 2400m of the Tokyo Yushun.

Writer’s Tips

17. Lovcen

14. Going To Sky

15. Forte Angelo

9. Audacia

Lovcen is clearly the horse to beat. I was impressed by his gutsy win in the Satsuki Sho and you always have to respect the Satsuki Sho formline. He has shown tactical versatility and he should be able to handle the 2400m.

Going To Sky is my second pick. He is already proven over the track and distance, posting a brilliant time in the process. The only question mark is whether he can back up that massive effort.

Forte Angelo is the absolute wildcard. The ground he made up in the Satsuki Sho after completely blowing the start was phenomenal. If he can settle cleanly and conserve his energy early on, he will be flying home late.

A bit of Aussie flavour with my fourth pick, Audacia, who will be ridden by Damien Lane who won this race three years ago. Liked its last start win, but deeply worried about the horse handling the 2400m. He does have the pedigree to back it up, but you are relying on his bloodline to see out the 2400m.

Lovcen

Realize Sirius

Forte Angelo

Going To Sky

Congestus

Lovcen keeps his Triple Crown dream alive

Japanese Derby: Everything you need to know

The Inside Rail