Yutaka Take is aiming for his sixth victory in 20 years in the Oka Sho with Sweep Feet. He has raced in the Oka Sho 30 times throughout his career, winning it for the first time in 1989 with Shadai Kagura in only his second start. Since then, he has won the race five times, with Vega in 1993, Oguri Roman in 1994, Phalaenopsis in 1998, and Dance in the Mood in 2004. Since 2005, however, he has finished second four times, narrowly missing out on extending his remarkable record in the Classic.

His partner this year is Sweep Feet. The Yasushi Shono-trained daughter of Suave Richard is out of Bijou Tosho by Deep Sky, with Sweep Tosho as her granddam. In her last two races, she has been partnered with Manami Nagashima, but on her last start, in the Tulip Sho, Take was onboard for the first time. From the back of the pack, Take took the lead on the final stretch and finished strong to secure her first major race victory. The winning time of 1:33.1 was the second fastest in the history of the race, behind Sinhalite in 2016. Naturally, she is expected to perform well at the Oka Sho.

We eagerly anticipate the continued dominance of this legend, who, even at 55, shows no signs of slowing down.