'He still has a lot of potential' - Japanese Derby hero Danon Decile returns to winning ways in American Jockey Club Cup

Last year's Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Danon Decile returned to winning ways when landing the Grade 2 American Jockey Club Cup at Nakayama on Sunday. 

The Shadai Farm-bred son of Epiphaneia settled in midfield under Keita Tosaki and moved smoothly to hit the front rounding the home turn. He defeated the front-running Matenro Leo by three-quarters of a length, with Cosmo Kuranda a nose back in third. 

 Danon Decile was last seen finishing third in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen last month and this success marked his fourth career victory from eight starts. 

The Danox Co-owned four-year-old is out of the high-class Congrats mare Top Decile, who was second in the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita. The 13-year-old was also second in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes before her Breeders' Cup effort. 

Danon Decile after marking his fourth successCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

Tosaki said: "When I rode him for the first time in training I thought he was a high-level horse. On the track I got an even better feeling as he started well and got the position near the front, so we weren't trapped on the inside. His position and rhythm were good.

"He still has a lot of potential and I think he will improve further after winning this."

Trainer Shogo Yasuda added: "This time it was a race where results were required and winning was the premise. There was a moment when he seemed to lose his balance at the last corner and I feel like he's still young. He's growing physically but I want him to grow up mentally.

"I would like to talk with the owner and decide the next step. I think his distance will be around 2000 metres." 

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