Eighth pick Logotype demonstrated a gate-to-wire victory in this year’s Yasuda Kinen, upsetting heavily favored
Maurice, and is now a three-time winner at the highest level. The Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (G1, 1,600m) victor and JRA Best Two-Year-Old Colt of 2012 went on to dominate the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) the following year but had been winless since while registering three runner-up finishes in 16 starts including his latest race, the Lord Derby Challenge Trophy (G3, 1,600m) on April 3. For trainer Tsuyoshi Tanaka, this is his fifth JRA-G1 victory, which includes two G1 jump titles, and first since his 2013 Satsuki Sho triumph with the same horse. Jockey Hironobu Tanabe celebrates his second G1 victory, his first when landing the February Stakes with the least favored runner Copano Rickey in 2014.
After breaking smoothly at the mouth of the backstretch, jockey Hironobu Tanabe hustled Logotype up to the front and led the field uncontested at a slow pace while Maurice, Real Steal, Decipher and Contentment followed a length behind. As the others made headway fanning out at the last corner for clear sailing, the six-year-old son of Lohengrin maintained the most economic route on the rails and showed no trouble finding his stride climbing up the hill, steadily stretching away to a 1-1/4 length victory.
Undefeated in his previous seven starts—the last four at G1 level—heavy favorite and 2015 Horse of the Year
Maurice took keen hold at the heels of the leader early and entered the lane in second, but was unable to threaten thereafter, securing the runner-up seat by narrowly holding off a fast-closing Fiero in the last strides.
Sixth choice Fiero took an unhurried wide trip fourth from the rear, and after finding himself in tight quarters in early stretch, found another gear to demonstrate a good burst of speed at the furlong pole to close well, a nose short from Maurice for third.

Contentment broke sharply and joined the leaders in third to start before being squeezed back to around fifth as
Maurice rushed to the front on his outside to chase the leader in second. While holding his position into the final straight, the son of Hussonet came up empty and faded to last.

“Brett told me the horse was empty and had nothing to give. He’s had a long season—he’s had nine starts and this was his tenth run—we’re always in this position, you’ve got to hope you’ve got another one. He did everything perfectly running up towards the race, but on race day, there’s nothing there—he’s empty. Disappointing for us but sadly it happens to some horses,” commented John Size. Brett Preble added “He broke well and we were able to sit in a good position. He traveled smoothly but seemed to be bothered by the rough surface and had nothing left in the stretch.”

Other Horses:
4th: (7) Satono Aladdin—traveled around 8th, trapped but chased Fiero in stretch, strong closure before wire
5th: (9) Isla Bonita—sat in 6th, checked in backstretch, angled wide, battled for second but unable to sustain
6th: (4) Decipher—chased leaders in 3rd, sustained bid but weakened in final strides
7th: (2) Danon Shark—sat 3rd from rear, accelerated after 400m marker, weakened in last 100m
8th: (1) Clarente—saved ground around 7th, lacked needed kick at stretch, even paced
9th: (3) Rosa Gigantea—was off slow, raced near rear, met traffic at early stretch, passed tired rivals
10th: (12) Red Arion—trailed in rear, turned wide, never fired and unable to reach contention
11th: (11) Real Steel—advanced to 4-5th, keen to go, weakened after 300m out, outrun thereafter