Rewind 12 months and much of the commentary surrounding Do Deuce and his challenge for the G1 Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (1800m) centred on trainer Yasuo Tomomichi’s excellent record when travelling horses abroad and, more specifically, to Meydan.
A major chance to extend a brilliant sequence was lost 24 hours before the 2023 running when Do Deuce – one of only two horses to inflict defeat on future world’s best racehorse Equinox – was scratched in conjunction with Emirates Racing Authority vets.
Now both horse and trainer are back and looking to put the record straight, the horse having returned from that injury to post victory in the G1 Arima Kinen (2500m) at Nakayama in late December, one which was every bit as impressive as his G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2400m) verdict over Equinox.
“We came last year but couldn’t run because of his injury and what happened with Do Deuce that day is still a fresh memory,” Tomomichi told a packed media conference at Meydan racecourse on Wednesday morning.
“Straight after Dubai Do Deuce went back to Northern Farm where they took care of getting him right after that setback.”
Vivlos burst onto the international scene when winning the 2017 Dubai Turf and followed up with second-placed efforts behind Benbatl (2018) and Almond Eye (2019).
Tomomichi said: “Before last year my record in Dubai had been nearly perfect, with Vivlos always being in the first two. I love Dubai and given the chance, I would like to have a runner here every year.”
Do Deuce was no match for Equinox in two meetings last autumn, though Tomomichi is clear that circumstances – including injury to owner Masaaki Matsushima’s retained jockey – conspired against him in both the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) and the G1 Japan Cup (2400m), before the stars realigned in the Arima Kinen.
“The first start of his autumn campaign after that layoff, he was a little bit too fresh,” said the trainer. “Then he raced in the Japan Cup, when his condition was completely different.
“Unfortunately Yutaka Take couldn’t ride him at the time but for the Arima Kinen, he maintained his condition and Yutaka Take was back onboard. Everything came together and he won very impressively, with everything working really well.”
The whole team agree that a likely strong pace in the Dubai Turf will play to Do Deuce’s strengths, while Tomomichi is relishing the chance to drop his stable star back in trip.
He said: “When you look at his physique, he looks like a miler or even a sprinter. He is a very muscular horse and it’s his mentality and his heart which means he stays the longer trip. But physically he suits a mile or nine furlongs.”
Tomomichi has become something of a modern Derby master, scoring in the Tokyo Yushun with Makahiki in 2016 and Wagnerian two years later.
Asked whether his 2022 hero was more naturally talented than his predecessors, Tomomichi argued the rise of Do Deuce had taken him slightly by surprise.
“Do Deuce was a May foal and horses by his sire, Heart’s Cry, generally need time and are not typically two-year-old or precocious types,” he said.
“When Do Deuce came to my stables at two, he looked like a nice horse but nothing special. He has improved race by race, and giving him time has allowed him to get stronger and produce these brilliant performances.
“Comparing him to some of the other Derby winners I’ve trained, they were more precocious horses and he certainly wasn’t like that.”