Yutaka Take adds to his legend with third Derby double in Japan

Notturno notched his first Grade 1 success on Wednesday, to the delight of rider Yutaka Take, who made his move on the far outside in the straight and then held off rivals in the Japan Dirt Derby at Ooi.

A son of Heart's Cry out of the US bred Unbridled's Song winning daughter Sheikh's Serenade, the Hidetaka Otonashi-trained three-year-old was posting his third win from seven career starts when pulling three-quarters of a length clear of Peisha Es, with the favourite Blitz Fang more than half a length back in third.

The Japan Dirt Derby is the highest level of race for three-year-old dirt horses in Japan, with Ooi racecourse coming under the auspices of the Tokyo Metropolitan Racing Association of the NAR (National Association of Racing).

It was Take's fourth Japan Dirt Derby win following Gold Allure in 2002, Big Wolf in 2003 and Kane Hekili in 2005. hE is the one and only rider to have done the Japanese Derby double in the same year, having won the Tokyo Yushun on turf on 2002 on Tanino Gimlet, in 2005 on the great Deep Impact and this year on Do Deuce.

Do Deuce is, like, Notturno a son of Heart's Cry.

Take said: "I am so happy. I thought I had a good chance coming to Ooi today. I wanted to get a good result.

"I felt his condition was better than ever and I went into the stalls with confidence. He was able to race smoothly after breaking from the outside stall and due to his good rhythm and the rain-soaked ground, I let him move a little early at the home turn.

"I have been riding him since his debut, and he has a little bit of a difficult mind but the stable staffs are doing a good job in terms of helping him grow up."

He added: "I am very happy to do the Derby double this year. I am 53 years old and he is only three-years-old, and I'd like to do good with him."

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