3 minute read
All hail Do Deuce and Tomomichi-sensei and Yutaka Take.
Take settled Do Deuce at the back of the field and in a move reminiscent of Deep Impact in his day started to move around the field from the 800m mark so that once around the home turn he could unleash up the hill and then go for the leaders Shin Emperor and Durezza. They made him work for the win but he's a very strong horse and managed to win by a neck with Shin Emperor and Durezza in a dead-heat for second.
There was no pace in the race and Shin Emperor was able to bowl along in front without any considerable effort and conserve his energy for the finish. Which was just as well as at one stage it looked as if it was going to be a triple dead-heat but Do Deuce just put in that extra lunge and got the victory.
Shin Emperor and Durezza dead-heated for second and then there was a 2 ½ length gap to Cervinia, Justin Palace and Goliath who all did well. Stars on Earth and August Rodin were the next ones home and Fantastic Moon finished 11th as he needed to have some pace for him to produce his best.
There was a farewell ceremony for August Rodin after the race. Unfortunately he wasn't able to follow in his sire's hoofprints but he has still been an amazing horse and bravo to Coolmore for sending him to Japan for the race.