Croix du Nord

Croix du Nord (Japanese: クロワデュノール, Hepburn: Kurowadyunōru; foaled March 21, 2022) is an active Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2024 Hopeful Stakes and the 2025 Tōkyō Yūshun.^[1][2] He won the JRA Award for Best Two-Year-Old Colt in 2024.^[5]

His name means "northern cross" in French.^[4]

His dam, Rising Cross, a British racehorse foaled in 2003, was bred from the mare Woodrising and the stallion Cape Cross. As a yearling, she was purchased for €20,000 by agent David Minton and entered into the ownership of Dave Nevison (Heading for the Rocks Partnership), being sent into training with John Best.^[6] Known for her petite stature, measuring just 14.3 hands, more akin to a pony, she showed promise on the track. In her three-year-old season (2006), she finished second to Alexandrova in the Epsom Oaks, after which ownership transferred to Gary Tanaka. That year, Rising Cross placed third in the Irish Oaks and went on to win the Park Hill Stakes.^[6] Her female lineage was noted for strong performances over middle to long distances. In 2008, Rising Cross was imported to Japan. One of her notable Japanese-bred offspring was Earthrise, sired by Manhattan Cafe, foaled in 2012; Earthrise finished second in the 2015 Flower Cup, and placed in both the 2016 Aichi Hai and the 2017 Mermaid Stakes.^[7] In 2022, Rising Cross foaled Croix du Nord, sired by Kitasan Black.^[7]

Croix du Nord was in the fourth crop of Kitasan Black, before the impact of Kitasan Black's most famous offspring, Equinox, became apparent.^[8] By 2021, Kitasan Black’s stud fee had fallen to a career-low of ¥3,000,000, yet the number of registered foals increased by sixteen from the previous generation, totaling seventy.^[9]

On June 9, 2024, Croix du Nord made his debut in a two-year-old maiden race over 1800 meters on turf at Tokyo Racecourse, ridden by Yuichi Kitamura. Although he appeared somewhat immature in the paddock, he broke well at the start, settled just behind the leader in second place, and then drew clear in the stretch. He fended off Cervinia's half-brother, Arlecchino, to win the race. His winning time of 1 minute 46.7 seconds set a new record for two-year-olds over 1800 meters on turf in June, and tied for the fastest debut maiden time ever recorded at that course, including three-year-olds.^[10]

His connections confirmed that he would take his next start in the Grade 2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes, often regarded as a stepping-stone for future stars.^[11] Held on November 16, 2024, that race drew significant attention, with him as the favorite. Red Kingly, by Saturnalia, was the second choice, followed by Satono Shining, by Kizuna.^[9] He had gained 24 kg since his debut, and his workouts leading into the race lacked their usual power; his trainer indicated he was not yet fully at peak fitness.^[9][12] In the race, Satono Shining set the pace with Red Kingly tracking in second and him sitting third.^[7] Rounding the final turn, he moved up to challenge for the lead. In the stretch, a fierce battle ensued among him and the two front-runners, but he prevailed to secure his first graded stakes victory.^[7]

On November 20, his connections announced plans to enter him in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.^[13] On December 28, he went to post as the favorite, enjoying a high single’s win support rate of 44.2 percent.^[14] In the race, Jun Asahi Sora dictated a steady tempo in front, while the third favorite, Piko Chan Black, and second favorite, Magic Sands, pressed on the lead.^[14] He tracked in the middle of the pack along the outside. Midway down the backstretch, outsider Faust Rasen swept past the field; he followed that move to advance into third as they turned for home. Once in the straight, he unleashed a sustained closing run to overtake Faust Rasen, then held off a late charge from Giovanni (who finished second), winning by two lengths.^[14] This margin was the largest since the Hopeful Stakes was elevated to Grade 1 status in 2017.^[15] His undefeated three-race streak to close the year featured wins in which he took the initiative and ran down his rivals, an approach praised in Yushun magazine by Reiichi Yokote as demonstrating the composure and dominance of a champion.^[15] For jockey Yuichi Kitamura, this marked his first Grade 1 victory in four years since Arima Kinen aboard Chrono Genesis, then followed by a severe fall; he was moved to tears in the postrace interview in front of the grandstand.^[15]

In the 2024 JRA Awards, he was selected as Best Two-Year-Old Colt, receiving 249 of 256 votes and defeating Admire Zoom by seven votes.^[5][15] In the JPN Thoroughbred Rankings for two-year-olds that year, he earned an official rating of 117 pounds, awarded on the strength of his Hopeful Stakes triumph, placing him one pound ahead of Admire Zoom as the top-rated two-year-old.^[16] His 117-pound rating tied the record for highest-ever two-year-old rating, matching Danon Premium’s mark in 2017.^[16]

Thanks in large part to his contribution, Kitasan Black achieved a career-high fourth place in the JRA’s two-year-old sire standings in 2024. His progeny’s earnings in graded stakes that year amounted to ¥141,114,000, ranking him first among sires.^[8]

In his three-year-old debut, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), he raced in a prominent position. However, on the second turn, Faust Rasen and others launched forward, upending the pace; although he briefly took the lead in the stretch, he was overtaken by Museum Mile and finished second, falling short of becoming the tenth undefeated winner of the Satsuki Sho. With an eye toward the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) at Tokyo Racecourse on June 1, he was sent to spell at Northern Farm Shigaraki in Shiga Prefecture on April 23.^[17] His trainer, Saito, reflected on the Satsuki Sho: “I wonder what might have happened had things gone a bit more smoothly, but it couldn’t be helped. He didn’t seem to lose much in transit, and it was good to have given him a bit of breathing room. In the end, it’s just the result.”^[17]

On May 7, his owner, Sunday Racing, announced via its website that he had been nominated, among other options, for this autumn’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, to be run on October 5.^[18] After grazing, he returned to Ritto Training Center on May 8.^[18] From there, he prepared for the Japanese Derby still with Yuichi Kitamura on board.^[18]

In the Japanese Derby on June 1 at Tokyo Racecourse, he tracked in third to fourth place during the run. In mid-stretch, he moved up to take the lead and held off a determined charge from Masquerade Ball and Shohei, winning decisively to claim his second Grade 1 title.^[19]

On September 14, he made his first overseas start in the Prix du Prince d'Orange at Longchamp Racecourse, in preparation for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. After a good start, he settled in fourth place and moved smoothly. In the final straight he launched a bold run and prevailed in a tight contest, holding off a fierce late challenge from the three-year-old french-trained Daryz to take first place. Carrying 58 kg for the first time and overcoming the heavy going, he recorded his first overseas graded stakes victory.^[20] On September 19, Kitamura was suspended for the races on September 28 and 29 by the French Gallop for exceeding the permitted number of whip uses during the Prix du Prince d'Orange.^[21]

On October 5, Croix du Nord ran in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He started from the 17th bracket on the very outside of the field.^[22] He battled for the front position on the opening stretch coming out of it leading the field. He led the pack until the final straight but faded late, finishing in 14th place.^[23] Croix du Nord arrived safely back in Japan on October 9.^[24]

Below data is based on data available on JBIS Search,^[25] NetKeiba,^[26] and France Galop.^[27]

Notes:

• His dam, Rising Cross, won the 2006 Park Hill Stakes.^[29]
• His great-great-granddam's half-brother, Blakeney, won the Epsom Derby.