A crowd of 80,000 erupted into chants for Yutaka as Do Deuce, the race favourite, delivered a breathtaking final 600 meters in 32.7 seconds, to claim victory in the Japan Cup. The win marked the horse's fifth G1 title and his second consecutive triumph after the Tenno Sho (Autumn), solidifying Yutaka Take's status as a legend with a record fifth Japan Cup victory. The five-year-old, already slated to retire at the end of the year, may now aim for back-to-back wins and a grand farewell in the G1 Arima Kinen on December 22nd at Nakayama Racecourse. A rare dead heat decided the second-place finishers, with Durezza and Shin Emperor tying for the spot as the seventh and eighth favourites, respectively.

Adding to the day's excitement, former Major League Baseball star Ichiro Suzuki appeared as the presenter during the Japan Cup awards ceremony. In a subsequent talk show, he marvelled at the atmosphere. "The scenery, the cheers, the energy at the racecourse, it's something I rarely feel at a baseball stadium. Yutaka Take's ride today was electrifying."

Ichiro, a close friend of Take, praised the jockey as a transcendent figure, "He's beyond the concept of luck, a true superstar. When someone like him wins, the sense of fulfilment lingers long after the race, and everyone here is feeling that."

In a surprise appearance, Yutaka Take joined the talk show, quipping, "In the final stretch, I thought, If I win, I get to meet Ichiro-san. I couldn't miss the chance, so I had to make it to the winners' circle." The crowd erupted in laughter and applause, basking in the unforgettable moment shared by two sporting legends.