The 61st Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Memorial was held at Nakayama Racecourse on March 3, 2024. This race is run by 3-year-old horses over a distance of 2,000 meters on the turf. This year’s winner was the 6th favorite, Cosmo Kyuranda, ridden by jockey M. Demuro. This colt belongs to the Shitsu Hachi stable at Miho.

This Yayoi Sho is positioned as an important trial race leading up to the G1 Satsuki Sho in April and the G1 Japanese Derby in May, meaning the race results are drawing even more attention. Each year, equal or more effort is put into coverage and predicting this race, and both its significance and status are steadily increasing. Out of the six horses that placed first or second in the Yayoi Sho over the past three years, five have won the 3-year-old G1, proving the significant influence that the results of the Yayoi Sho hold.

Particularly, jockey Lemaire’s overall results in the Yayoi Sho are impressive, with placements of [1, 2, 2, 1]. His probability of finishing within the top three is a stunning 83%. In 2016, he won riding Makahiki, and followed with wins in the 2017 Derby and 2018 Emperor’s Prize, establishing his status as the go-to jockey for securing the right to priority participation in the Satsuki Sho.

At this Yayoi Sho, Trovatore, who landed a trifecta in last year’s Yayoi Sho and is currently on a two-race winning streak without defeat, is attracting attention. Initially thriving on the dirt track, he demonstrated great tenacity and impressive speed in his last race, the Ha Botan Sho, producing a G1-class performance.

The Yayoi Sho serves as one of the rare opportunities to secure a ticket to the Satsuki Sho. The competing horses face the race with utmost preparedness, striving to finish within the top three. Thus, the results of this race will have a significant impact on the upcoming racing season.