The highly anticipated G1 Japanese Derby week has arrived! Out of the 7,906 foals born in 2021, which horse will stand at the top? Leading the field is the unbeaten Guineas winner, Justin Milano. His trainer, Yasuo Tomomichi, has already secured three Japanese Derby victories with Makahiki in 2016, Wagnerian in 2018, and Do Deuce in 2022, the most among current JRA trainers. He now aims for his fourth win, which would make him second on the all-time list.

Justin Milano is aiming to become the eighth horse in history to win the first two Classics unbeaten. Despite making a late debut in November as a juvenile, he quickly secured three straight wins to capture a first Classic. Trainer Tomomichi reflects on his journey so far with this rising star.

Tomomichi first encountered Justin Milano as a foal in July. Having trained his half-brother Pietrasanta, he was drawn to Justin Milano's overall silhouette, face, and intelligent expression, as well as his defined muscle tone. "He seemed well-suited for longer distances and I thought he would become a great horse," he recalls.

However, as a two-year-old, Justin Milano still had some physical immaturity and was not progressing as expected in training. "A year ago, I do not think I said anything about this horse in interviews," Tomomichi admits. At his stable, it is common to pass the gate test in the summer and then send the horse to the farm for a rest in preparation for an autumn campaign, but Justin Milano was not ready for that.

By the time of his debut race, he had only just reached an average level. Although there were doubts, he won his maiden race convincingly by pressing the pace and leading all the way. "He was stronger than we expected," says Tomomichi. Despite considering the G1 Hopeful Stakes afterwards, they opted for a rest to allow for further physical and mental growth, a decision that has clearly paid off.

With the new year, Justin Milano improved significantly. "His body developed, and he started moving better in training." The Kyodo Tsushin Hai, known for producing top horses, was chosen for his seasonal debut. However, complications arose when Jantar Mantar also entered the race. "I was a bit taken aback, but once we committed, we could not back out," Tomomichi laughed. At the time, Justin Milano had only one race win, making a match-up with the two-year-old champion daunting.

Trainer Tomomichi's confidence was bolstered by jockey Kota Fujioka, who tragically passed away in April after a fall in a race. "A week before the race, Kota rode him and said, 'If you run him next week, it could change the three-year-old landscape.' His words gave me confidence." Justin Milano went on to decisively beat the two-year-old champion by a length and a half.

Before the G1 Satsuki Sho, Fujioka continued to ride Justin Milano in training and communicated his impressions to jockey Keita Tosaki. "Kota has always been reliable, riding not just Justin Milano but also Do Deuce, Makahiki, and Wagnerian, and conveying important insights to the jockeys who would race them."

In the G1 Satsuki Sho, despite concerns about handling four corners, a large field, and a fast G1 pace, Justin Milano responded with a record-breaking victory. Unlike Tomomichi's previous Derby winners who were outpaced in the Satsuki Sho, Justin Milano's ability to position himself prominently in the race stands out. "What sets him apart from the other three is his racing guile, which allows him to stay up front," Tomomichi pointed out. He also highlights their shared intelligence, "Even when his tension rises, he quickly regains his composure. He knows what he needs to do."

Aiming for the pinnacle of his generation, Justin Milano's potential Derby win would mark Tomomichi's fourth, making him the second winning-most trainer in Derby history. "I want to win the Japanese Derby as many times as possible. I have always said that Tokyo will suit Justin Milano better, so I cannot afford a poor performance now," he says with a humble smile but unable to stop an obvious confidence shining through.