Tokyo Yushun Preview: The 93rd Running of the Iconic Race

Japan Racing Association top-level action remains at Tokyo Racecourse for the fourth week in a row and what race could better follow the history-making Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) than the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). It is a tradition, an icon, a beloved event.

On Sunday, May 31, the host venue will mark the 93rd running of the Japanese Derby, the 2,400-meter second leg of the Triple Crown of racing organized by the JRA. The Triple Crown also consists of the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) run over 2,000 meters at Nakayama in April, and the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) contested over 3,000 meters at Hanshin in October.

Of the nearly 8,000 thoroughbred foals born in 2023, only 20 colts, 11 of them graded stakes winners, have been nominated for the turf event. That is a less-than 2.3% chance of participating.

Only 18 of those 20 will have a chance of landing a spot in the lineup, and the opportunity to vie for a first-place prize of ¥300 million JPY (about $1.9 million USD), or a share of a purse boasting ¥651 million ($4.08 million).

About the Tokyo Yushun

Tokyo Racecourse is known for its spaciousness, sweeping turns, long homestretch, and the long upward slope beginning soon after the final bend. It is also known for its unforgiving demands on strength, stamina and talent. At the young age of 3, it's quite a test.

The race starts in front of the grandstand and completes just over one lap around. While the inside gates are considered somewhat advantageous in the Derby, the pace tends to be slow.

In the last 10 runnings, the race favorite has won three times, finished second three times and placed third twice. Over the past decade, a double-digit longshot did win once (Roger Barows in 2019), and finished third twice.

All runners will carry 57 kg.

Post time for the Japanese Derby, the 11th race, is 3:40 PM on the Sunday card of 12 at Tokyo. The Grade 2 Meguro Kinen follows as the last race of the day.

Here's a look at some of the standouts:

Tokyo Yushun — *Lovcen is seen in action en route to victory in the 2026 Satsuki Sho on April 19 at Nakayama Racecourse. (©SANKEI)*

Lovcen Brings Experience to 2nd Leg of Triple Crown

After acing his debut in November 2025, Lovcen scored an astounding victory in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes. Two months later, he scored a third-place finish in the G3 Kyodo News Hai Kinen. He then went on to capture his second G1, the Satsuki Sho, 3/4 length ahead of runner-up Realize Sirius, with a record time of 1 minute, 56.5 seconds.

The Derby distance will be 400 meters longer than anything Lovcen has experienced. But with his solid record and three wins over 2,000 meters, coupled with his ability to race well from any position, he is likely to be a favorite in this race. His third-place finish in the Kyodo News Hai Kinen also gave him experience at Tokyo.

"He's quite muscular, but from his bloodline, I don't think he'll have a problem [with the distance]," trainer Haruki Sugiyama commented. "Racing at his own rhythm will be key."

Lovcen's sire is the new Deep Impact stallion World Premiere, whose top wins were the 2019 Kikuka Sho and the 2021 Tenno Sho (Spring). If Lovcen can win the first two Triple Crown events, it'll be the first time this has happened since Contrail accomplished the feat in 2020.

Trainer Says Congestus is 'Maturing with Each Race'

Congestus made his racing debut on December 28, 2025, the day of the Arima Kinen, which means his racing career will be only three months old on Derby Day. A son of Triple Crown winner Contrail, Congestus has swept all three starts thus far, most recently his first graded event, the G2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai.

"I think his most recent race was a difficult race, but he won, which was big," trainer Tomokazu Takano said.

Takano added, "I feel he's maturing with each race and his performance reflects that."

The dark bay colt's time in that race was only 0.2 seconds shy of the course record. Congestus has raced in the 2,000-2,200 meter range, but has yet to race to the left, which is the direction of the Tokyo course. Based in Ritto, Shiga Prefecture, he has already made the trip east successfully for his debut run at Nakayama.

Realize Sirius Vying for 3rd Tokyo Triumph

Winning his debut by a margin of seven lengths, Realize Sirius went on to triumph by four lengths in the G3 Niigata Nisai Stakes over 1,600 meters. Returning after four months, he finished in fifth place in the 1,600-meter Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes in December 2025. Two months later, he won the Kyodo News Hai, then, in the Satsuki Sho, was the runner-up only 0.2 seconds behind the winner.

He is sired by new stallion Poetic Flare, who raced predominately over middle distances in England and Ireland, and scored in the top 3 of six G1 competitions (including two wins).

Based in Miho, Ibaraki Prefecture, Realize Sirius has two wins at Tokyo, one over a mile and one covering 1,800 meters. With a sterling 3-for-3 record racing to the left, this will be his first test at a distance further than 2,000 meters.

Along with Realize Sirius, trainer Takahisa Tezuka is also fielding Audacia here. And if he wins Sunday's Tokyo Yushun, Tezuka would become the fifth trainer in Japanese racing history to bag all five of what are known as the "Classics" ― the Oka Sho, Satsuki Sho, Japanese Oaks, Japanese Derby and the Kikuka Sho.

Going to Sky, Take Team Up for Derby Ride

After a winning debut in early October 2025, the Contrail-sired Going to Sky finished third the following month in the G3 Kyoto Nisai Stakes. Entrusted to the Miho-based trainer Yuki Uehara, Going to Sky trained at Ritto in preparation for his first start of the year, the G3 Kisaragi Sho in mid-February.

A late break and a 16-kg weight gain from the previous start were likely factors in his sixth-place finish, his only finish off the board (yet only 0.3 seconds behind the winner).

Last time out, however, he took on the G2 Aoba Sho, a 2,400-meter event in Tokyo. Despite a wide draw, he aced the race to win by 3/4 lengths and tied the race record of 2 minutes, 23 seconds. Going to Sky is 2-for-2 in Tokyo. That said, no winner of the Aoba Sho has gone on to win the Japanese Derby.

Scheduled to ride Going to Skyo on Sunday is Yutaka Take, who has six Tokyo Yushun wins in his legendary career. He's eyeing a lucky seventh win, his first in four years since he won aboard Do Deuce in 2022.

Read the rest of this article about the Tokyo Yushun and the Japanese horses in contention on JRA News.

Author: JRA News