Kizuna, Duramente, and Rey de Oro continue generational tradition
Tuesday, 21 May, 2024 18:59
Justin Milano and Sugar Kun (Photo: Yuki Shimono,Kuniyoshi Koganei)
Sons of Kizuna, Duramente and Rey de Oro will be aiming to complete three generations Derby conquerors. Following in the footsteps of their great-grandfather and father, five Kizuna-bred colts will be entered into the 2024 Tokyo Yushun, including race favourite Justin Milano. Two Duramente-bred colts, including Sugar Kun and Sunrise Earth, a first son of Rey de Oro, are also in the field.
15 derby-winning stallions have produced horses to have won the Japanese Derby. However, there has never been success across three generations. In recent years, Deep Bond (5th in 2020), Bathrat Leon (15th in 2021), and Ask Wild More (12th in 2022), are all by Kizuna. Titleholder (6th in 2021), Season Rich (7th in 2023), and Dura Erede (2023), are all by Duramente. All have tried but ultimately failed to land the famous prize.
Of the 19 horses entered for this year's race, eight have both sires and grandsires who won the Derby. Five by Kizuna, two by Duramente and one by Rey de Oro. Justin Milano, a horse bred by Kizuna, won his first GI race on just his third career start in the Satsuki Sho. With his experience in Tokyo, Justin Milano is a Derby contender with seemingly no obvious chinks in his armor. Kizuna is also represented by Spring Stakes winner Sixpence and Kyoto Shimbun Hai winner June Take.
On the other hand, expectations are high for Sugar Kun, a son of Duramente. As a trial race, the winner of the Aoba Sho has yet to graduate to Derby spoils. No stranger to breaking JRA records, Yutaka Take will be in the saddle of Sugar Kun. Sunrise Earth, a son of Rey de Oro, is the leading earner for his sire from his first crop.
From sire's point of view, the Tokyo Yushun is a breed-defining race, and we cannot wait to see what unfolds this Sunday.
15 derby-winning stallions have produced horses to have won the Japanese Derby. However, there has never been success across three generations. In recent years, Deep Bond (5th in 2020), Bathrat Leon (15th in 2021), and Ask Wild More (12th in 2022), are all by Kizuna. Titleholder (6th in 2021), Season Rich (7th in 2023), and Dura Erede (2023), are all by Duramente. All have tried but ultimately failed to land the famous prize.
Of the 19 horses entered for this year's race, eight have both sires and grandsires who won the Derby. Five by Kizuna, two by Duramente and one by Rey de Oro. Justin Milano, a horse bred by Kizuna, won his first GI race on just his third career start in the Satsuki Sho. With his experience in Tokyo, Justin Milano is a Derby contender with seemingly no obvious chinks in his armor. Kizuna is also represented by Spring Stakes winner Sixpence and Kyoto Shimbun Hai winner June Take.
On the other hand, expectations are high for Sugar Kun, a son of Duramente. As a trial race, the winner of the Aoba Sho has yet to graduate to Derby spoils. No stranger to breaking JRA records, Yutaka Take will be in the saddle of Sugar Kun. Sunrise Earth, a son of Rey de Oro, is the leading earner for his sire from his first crop.
From sire's point of view, the Tokyo Yushun is a breed-defining race, and we cannot wait to see what unfolds this Sunday.