Photo:

Kaz Ishida/Eclipse Sportswire

Heavy favorite Croix du Nord won Saturday’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes over 1 1/4 miles at Nakayama, reinforcing his bid to become Japan’s leading 2-year-old. The brown colt has emulated 2020 Triple Crown victor Contrail in capping off his debut campaign undefeated with three consecutive wins. The Kitasan Black colt won his debut start in June over 1 1/8 miles. He then scored a graded win in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2), also at 1 1/8 miles, on Nov. 16.

Trainer Takashi Saito claimed his eighth Grade 1 title on the JRA circuit, and the win was his first since the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) with Geraldina. It was his second Hopeful Stakes victory following with Killer Ability in 2021. Jockey Yuichi Kitamura scored his sixth Grade 1 title, his last being the 2020 Arima Kinen (G1) with Chrono Genesis.

Croix du Nord broke sharply from gate 6 but allowed the early leaders to pass and settled off the rails in mid-division behind a brisk pace led by Jun Asahi Sora. Gradually making headway soon after seeing Faust Rasen quickly go by on his outside, the unbeaten colt found another gear soon after entering the stretch in third or fourth and continued to increase his speed as soon as he reached the top of the uphill stretch to win by a comfortable two-length margin.

“I can’t say that the race went exactly as planned, but I had complete faith in him and knew that he would make it through whatever situation he would be in during the race. It was his first time going right-handed and against a full gate of 18 runners, but I totally believed he would handle that too. His physical condition since his last start had improved and his movement was sharp. I wanted him to finish the last of his 2-year-old starts at a good note so that we would be able to focus on his three-year-old campaign which now will carry much expectation. I am so grateful for everyone who had supported me which is why I am standing here today as a Grade 1 winner and I hope to give my best again next season,” commented Yuichi Kitamura.

Sixth pick Giovanni was unhurried after the break, sitting in mid-field while saving ground along the rails with the race favorite close on his outside. Keeping to the inside into the straight, the Epiphaneia colt shifted out to join the eventual winner in his stretch run for home and while unable to match the winner, showed great effort to overtake Faust Rasen for second.

Faust Rasen, the 17th betting choice in the field of 18, allowed most of his rivals go past after the break, content to sit near the rear early. He made an aggressive move along the backstretch to overtake the field, reaching the pacemaker with about half a mile to go and grabbing the lead entering the stretch. Finally shaking off Jun Asahi Sora who continued to fight to regain the lead but tired after the furlong pole, the Mozu Ascot colt was quickly overtaken by the winner about half a furlong out and then by Giovanni in the final strides to finish third.