Yutaka Take rewrites history books yet again with Kikuka Sho victory

The legendary Yutaka Take rewrote the history books after he became the oldest jockey to win the Grade 1 Kikuka Sho when World Premiere ran out a game winner ahead of Satono Lux.

Take, 50, who is associated with champions such as Deep Impact, Vodka and Kitasan Black, first won the Kikuka Sho in 1988 when he became the youngest rider to capture the race aged 19, and his country's most famous jockey struck again over 30 years later.

It was also a poignant result for the Japanese bloodstock industry as it provided the much-missed stallion Deep Impact with his 50th Grade 1 winner.

World Premiere, who settled early behind favourite Velox, took the lead at the top of the home straight to land the third leg of the Triple Crown by a closing neck from the fast-finishing Satono Lux.

Take said: "He came into the race in good condition and we had a good draw, so I was concentrating on running our best race. He was a bit keen at first but was in hand nicely during the race.

"He wasn’t able to run in the first two of the Triple Crown races, so I am glad that he was able to claim the last one. He’s still got plenty of improvement, so I’m looking forward to the future."

The veteran jockey became the first rider on the JRA circuit to reach 4,000 winners with a treble at Hashin last year.

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