Lovcen Captures the Japanese Derby and Moves Within One Step of the Triple Crown
- Turf Diario
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The son of World Premiere once again proved he is Japan's leading 3-year-old, capturing the Tokyo Yushun (G1) and keeping alive the dream of a historic Triple Crown campaign
TOKYO, Japan (Special to Turf Diario).- The road to immortality remains wide open for Lovcen (World Premiere).
The outstanding colt confirmed all the promise he had displayed in the Satsuki Sho (G1) on Sunday, establishing himself as the leading stayer of his generation with a victory in the prestigious Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby-G1), the most important race for 3-year-olds in Japan.
With the win, the Haruki Sugiyama trainee became the 25th horse in history to capture the first two jewels of the Japanese Triple Crown, something not accomplished since Contrail (Deep Impact) completed the feat in 2020.
Now, the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger-G1) looms as the final step toward a place among racing's immortals.
The victory also carried special significance for his connections.
Both Sugiyama and jockey Kohei Matsuyama secured their first triumph in the Japanese Derby, one of the most coveted prizes in the country's racing calendar. For the trainer, it marked his ninth Group 1 victory, while Matsuyama celebrated the eleventh top-level success of his career.
The task, however, was far from straightforward.
Breaking from one of the widest posts in the gate, Lovcen was a step slow leaving the stalls and endured minor contact with Green Energy (Suave Richard), forcing him into an awkward position in midpack while racing wide throughout much of the journey.
It was a very different scenario from the one he enjoyed in the Satsuki Sho, where he dominated from start to finish while establishing a race record.
This time, he had to show a different side of his talent.
While Realize Sirius (Poetic Flare), runner-up to Lovcen in the Japanese Guineas, assumed command after taking over from early leader Meisho Hachiko (Roger Barows), the race unfolded through moderate fractions. Further back, Peintre Naif (Kizuna) advanced quietly, with Lovcen tracking one of his principal rivals every step of the way.
The race changed dramatically upon entering the stretch.
The outsider Basse Terre (Kitasan Black), the eleventh choice in the betting and coming off an unremarkable eleventh-place finish in the Satsuki Sho, unleashed a powerful rally from the rear and seized the lead with 300 meters remaining.
For a moment, an upset appeared imminent.
But then the two best horses of the generation emerged.
Peintre Naif accelerated strongly and Lovcen responded immediately. The trio produced a thrilling finish, with Basse Terre desperately trying to hold on while the two favorites bore down on him.
Ultimately, Lovcen's determination and class once again proved decisive.
In the final strides, he wore down Peintre Naif and reached the wire with a narrow but decisive advantage to secure the greatest victory of his career.
“I still can't believe I'm now a Derby-winning jockey,” an emotional Matsuyama said afterward. “When I came back in front of the grandstand and heard the roar of the crowd, I couldn't hold back my tears. I felt the pressure of riding the favorite and trying to keep the Triple Crown dream alive, but I always believed in him. Today he showed his quality once again.”
The jockey also highlighted the champion's versatility.
“We couldn't get the ideal position because of the draw, but just as he did in the Hopeful Stakes, he showed an extraordinary turn of foot. He's a very complete horse and still has plenty of room to improve.”
The victory further cemented Lovcen's dominance over a generation consisting of no fewer than 7,944 foals born in 2023, a figure that underscores the magnitude of reaching the pinnacle of Japanese racing.
With victories in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at two, the Satsuki Sho (G1), and now the Tokyo Yushun (G1), the son of World Premiere has assembled an exceptional résumé in remarkably little time.
The Derby also featured Brazilian jockey Francisco Leandro, who finished 14th aboard M's Begin (Kitasan Black), although he did manage to win one of the allowance races on the card.
The Triple Crown is no longer a distant dream.
It is a very real possibility.
And after what Lovcen showed in Tokyo, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find reasons why that dream should end anytime soon.
