Sports · Other Sports · 52 mins ago
Basteel loses Kikuka Sho by a nose as Take claims first G1 win
Yutaka Take won the Kikuka Sho with Go Into Sky at Kyoto Racecourse on October 25, earning his first Grade 1 victory.
Basteel finished second by a nose after a close finish decided by a photo review.
The race, run over 3,000 metres, is the final leg of Japan’s Triple Crown for three-year-old horses.
Eighth-favourite Basteel had strong form, including a win in the Yayoi Sho and third place in the Japanese Derby, despite finishing 13th in its previous race.
Kawada said he blamed his own riding for failing to turn the narrow margin into a win.
He was also fined 50,000 yen for his horse moving outward at the fourth turn.
Yutaka Take rode Go Into Sky to victory in the Kikuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse on October 25.
Go Into Sky beat Basteel by a nose over 3,000 metres for the colt’s first Grade 1 win.
Basteel finished second and Danon History third in the 18-horse race.
Take secured his sixth Kikuka Sho victory.
Jockeys Yuga Kawada and Christophe Lemaire were fined for separate instances of drifting during the race.
- Who
- Go Into Sky, ridden by Yutaka Take, won. Basteel and Danon History finished second and third.
- What
- Go Into Sky won the Kikuka Sho by a nose.
- When
- October 25, 2026.
- Where
- Kyoto Racecourse, Japan.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Kikuka Sho was run over 3,000 metres on turf at Kyoto Racecourse.
Yuga Kawada was fined 50,000 yen for Basteel drifting outward at the fourth turn, and Christophe Lemaire was fined 10,000 yen for Danon History drifting outward in the stretch.
- Winner
- Go Into Sky, ridden by Yutaka Take
- Winning time
- 3:04.5
- Margin
- Basteel finished a nose behind
- Field
- 18 horses
- Venue and distance
- Kyoto Racecourse; 3,000 metres
- Take’s Kikuka Sho wins
- Six
6 sources
What people are saying
Yutaka was superb. I think he could see that it would take that shape.
Basteel held his patience well during the race.