Eighth pick Sixpence grabbed his much-awaited first G1 title in this year’s Yasuda Kinen. The son of Kizuna won his debut start for former trainer Sakae Kunieda, in September as a two-year-old and extended his winning streak to three in the Spring Stakes (G2, 1,800m). However, the much-expected colt disappointed to ninth in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) and, while adding two graded titles in the Mainichi Okan (G2, 1,800m) that year and the Nakayama Kinen (G2, 1,800m), his four-year-old debut, was winless since including three starts on dirt in which he managed one runner-up effort. Back to turf again after Hiroyasu Tanaka took over his trainer upon Kunieda’s retirement, he finished seventh the Milers Cup (G2, 1,600m). Tanaka scored his fourth JRA-G1 title, his first since the 2024 Champions Cup with Lemon Pop, while jockey Yutaka Take registered his 85th victory following last year’s Takarazuka Kinen with Meisho Tabaru and fourth Yasuda Kinen win after Oguri Cap in 1990, Heart Lake in 1995 and Vodka in 2009 and became the oldest G1-winning jockey at 57 years, 2 months and 24 days.
Sixpence made use of an inside draw to secure a forward position along the rails behind a moderate pace set by World’s End. As the field closed in rounding the final turn, Yutaka Take quickly guided his mount to the inside lane but decided to shift to the outside of the leader just before the uphill stretch and was eventually contested by Seiun Hades on his outside. Finally catching up to the tenacious leader 50 meters out, it was a neck-to-neck rally between four runners to the wire in which, the son of Kizuna bested by a narrow margin.
“I was called up at a short notice to ride the horse for the first time, but I’m relieved to have being able to get my job done. 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, so my plan was to have him up front, even lead if necessary, and although the front runners were pretty tenacious in the final stretch with horses also coming from behind, Sixpence was very responsive. He has shown his true strength with a lot to look forward to in his coming races,” commented Yutaka Take.
World’s End shot forward to take the lead immediately after the break and opened the gap to about four lengths along the backstretch while allowed to cruise at a moderate pace. Although the rest of the field closed in rounding the final turn, the son of Lord Kanaloa still had plenty in his tank to maintain his lead, even after the long uphill stretch and rallied gamely with the winner to the finish line, just missing by a neck, tying second with Gaia Force who made ground quickly on his outside.
Race favorite Gaia Force was settled in mid-division around ninth or tenth position and turned in the fastest finishing speed from 400 meters out to reach contention at the top of the hill, but was just short of reaching the leader by a neck margin while crossing the wire in a tie for second with World’s End.
Other Horses:
4th: (13) Seiun Hades—chased leaders in 3rd, failed to catch front runners and overtaken by Gaia Force just before wire
5th: (16) Panja Tower—settled wide around 6th, gradually closed in on leaders, needed more
6th: (3) Off Trail—hugged rails around 8th, ran willingly while short of reaching leaders
7th: (1) Lebensstil—saved ground around 4th, ran gamely but weakened after 200m pole
8th: (15) Dragon Boost—traveled around 11th, slow to pick up speed
9th: (17) Trovatore—unhurried around 15th, showed tied 2nd fastest late speed but belatedly
10th: (6) Stellenbosch—sat around 7th, failed to respond at stretch
11th: (10) Luxor Cafe—trailed in rear, accelerated, had too much ground to make up
12th: (8) Champagne Color—ran around 12th, showed effort up to 200m pole
13th: (9) Water Licht—settled near rear, launched belated kick
14th: (12) Sirius Colt—positioned wide around 13th, never threatened
15th: (5) Sakura Toujours—raced around 10th, showed little at stretch
16th: (2) Long Run—tracked leaders around 4th, faded after final corner
17th: (7) Suzu Khalom—traveled around 14th, never fired