Tastiera Edges Race Favorite Sol Oriens in 90th Tokyo Yushun
Four horses vied for the Tokyo Yushun title after pacesetter Pax Ottomanica faded late, and Tastiera held off Sol Oriens, Hearts Concerto and Bellagio Opera.
The 90th Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) produced a pulse-rising finish as the final 200 meters of the 2,400-meter was a quintessential traffic jam at full speed on the crowded turf.
But there was poise amidst the pressure. Tastiera, guided by 29-year-old Australian Damian Lane, found the perfect path, operating efficiently and with quickness. As a result, Tastiera finished first by a neck's length over race favorite Sol Oriens (Takeshi Yokoyama) on Sunday, May 28 at Tokyo Racecourse.
Hearts Concerto, Kohei Matsuyama's ride, secured third place by a neck over Bellagio Opera (Kazuo Yokoyama, Takeshi's older brother).
Nocking Point placed fifth, one length behind Bellagio Opera, a Lord Kanaloa offspring, in the Japan Racing Association Grade 1 race, the second leg of the Japanese Triple Crown races. (Watch the full race on the JRA's YouTube channel.)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login