Croix du Nord Poised for Japan's Two Thousand Guineas

Croix du Nord (JPN), undefeated in three starts in 2024, transitions into his 3-year-old season April 20 as the likely hot favorite in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1), first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown. There should be a feeling of déjà vu for the Kitasan Black (JPN) colt. He wound up his juvenile campaign on the same Nakayama Racecourse turf at the same 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in December, winning the Hopeful Stakes (G1) by two lengths over Giovanni (JPN). That finished a perfect season that also included wins in a 2-year-old newcomer race and the Hai Nisai Stakes (G2), both at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) at Tokyo Racecourse. "Last time in the Hopeful Stakes, he got a position quite naturally and the jockey rode him well," said Croix du Nord's trainer, Takashi Saito. "It was the horse's first run at Nakayama, but he ran a strong race." The jockey, Yuichi Kitamura, added, "He's a horse with real ability, and we saw what he could do in the Hopeful Stakes. He's been moving really well in training and he'll take some beating if he brings his best to this next race." Croix du Nord will start from gate 10 gate in the 18-horse field. Others knocking on the door include Giovanni, who had a win and three seconds last season. He chased Croix du Nord up the stretch in the Hopeful but wasn't able to maintain the momentum in the final 100 meters while holding second. He has the advantage of a prep race this season—a victory in the 2,000-meter Wakaba Stakes at Hanshin March 22. "He seems to have improved since the Wakaba Stakes," said Haruki Sugiyama, Giovanni's trainer. "His workload's been good, and he's chased down his two training partners well, moving with a good rhythm, which looks to be just right. He's relaxed when he runs and he seems to be improving for his training." Faust Rasen (JPN) finished third in last year's Hopeful Stakes after making a bold midrace move around most of the field. He, too, was successful in a prep race for the Satsuki Sho, winning the Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen (G2) March 9. That race was also 2,000 meters at Nakayama. Masquerade Ball (JPN) has won three of four races, and the Duramente (JPN) colt exits a win in the Hai Tokinominoru Kinen (G3) at 1,800 meters at Tokyo Racecourse in February. The colt's only loss was an 11th-place finish in the Hopeful. For those who follow jockeys, perennial results leader Christophe Lemaire rides Vincentio (JPN) for trainer Kazutomo Mori and visiting rider Joao Moreira looks for his third grade 1 win in a span of just four weeks aboard Museum Mile (JPN). Vincentio finished second and Museum Mile fourth in the Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho. The Satsuki Sho is run right-handed on the inner loop of the Nakayama turf, starting at the top of the stretch for two runs past the grandstand. The race has not been kind recently to favorites; only two of the past 10 have emerged with a victory—granted, one of those was Contrail (JPN), who won in 2020 en route to a Triple Crown sweep.