# Danon Decile (ダノンデサイル)
**Danon Decile** (ダノンデサイル, foaled 6 April 2021) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse, a chestnut colt by Epiphaneia out of Top Decile (USA), who won the 2024 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and the 2025 Dubai Sheema Classic and was named Japan's Best Three-Year-Old Colt of 2024[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF) • [2](https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/news_media/awards/jra/2024.html). He is owned by Danox Co. Ltd., trained by Shogo Yasuda at Ritto, and was bred by Shadai Farm in Chitose, Hokkaido[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF) • [3](https://www.racingandsports.com.au/thoroughbred/horse/danon-decile/2105983).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Foaled | 6 April 2021, Chitose, Japan; chestnut colt, bred by Shadai Farm[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF) |
| Pedigree | By Epiphaneia; dam Top Decile (USA, 2012, by Congrats)[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF) • [4](https://en.netkeiba.com/db/horse/ped/2021105143/) |
| Major wins | Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) 2024, Dubai Sheema Classic 2025 (both G1); American Jockey Club Cup 2025 (G2); Keisei Hai 2024 (G3)[4](https://en.netkeiba.com/db/horse/ped/2021105143/) |
| Record | 14 starts, 5 wins, 5 placings (71% top three)[3](https://www.racingandsports.com.au/thoroughbred/horse/danon-decile/2105983) |
| Earnings | ¥1,540,874,400 total, of which ¥553,060,400 earned overseas[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF) |
| Ratings | 125 L (T) in the JPN Thoroughbred Ranking (2025); 118 in the 2026 JRA rating[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF) |
| Honors | Best Three-Year-Old Colt, 2024 JRA Awards (56% of votes)[2](https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/news_media/awards/jra/2024.html) |
## Background
Danon Decile was bought by Danox Co. Ltd. at the 2022 Select Sale yearling session for JPY 148,500,000, from the Shadai Farm consignment[3](https://www.racingandsports.com.au/thoroughbred/horse/danon-decile/2105983). His name combines the Danox "Danon" prefix with part of his dam's name[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF).
His dam Top Decile was a stakes performer in the United States, finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and the Alcibiades Stakes (G1)[4](https://en.netkeiba.com/db/horse/ped/2021105143/). She was also the dam of Top the Bill, a winner by [American Pharoah](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-pharoah)[4](https://en.netkeiba.com/db/horse/ped/2021105143/). The sire Epiphaneia, himself the sire of Danon Decile's generation of Japanese classics, was crowned Japanese Champion 2yo Sire in 2025[5](https://www.jrha.or.jp/stallion_e/horse/?name=Epiphaneia).
## Racing career
**Two and three years old.** Danon Decile debuted at Tokyo in October 2023, finishing fourth in a 1600 m maiden, then won a 1800 m maiden at Kyoto later that month[6](https://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/horse/danon-decile-jpn/000000601454/). In November 2023 he ran fourth in the Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3)[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF).
He opened 2024 with a win in the Keisei Hai (G3) at Nakayama in January, his first graded victory[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF). He was excluded from the field of the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in April, which was won by Justin Milano[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF). In the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on 26 May 2024, sent off as ninth favorite in a field of 17, he came with a late run to win in 2:24.3, defeating Justin Milano[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF) • [7](https://www.jra.go.jp/datafile/seiseki/replay/2024/pdf/derby.pdf). The Japan Racing Association's Hong Kong counterpart described the result as a surprise, noting that he captured the Derby as race ninth pick[8](https://racing.hkjc.com/racing/content/PDF/RaceCard/OSE20241020_starter_s4_all.pdf). In the autumn he ran sixth as favorite in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) over 3000 m at Kyoto[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF), and closed the year with third place in the [Arima Kinen](https://www.edgepedia.org/arima-kinen) (G1) at Nakayama, beaten by Regaleira[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF). At the 2024 JRA Awards he was named Best Three-Year-Old Colt, receiving 56% of the available votes[2](https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/news_media/awards/jra/2024.html).
**Four years old.** He began 2025 with a win in the American Jockey Club Cup (G2) at Nakayama in January, his first start against older horses[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF). The performance earned a rating of 125, and the JRHA catalog later described the victory as "stunning"[5](https://www.jrha.or.jp/stallion_e/horse/?name=Epiphaneia) • [9](https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/cdn.jrha-selectsale.com/pdf/catalogue_2025_yearling.pdf?1773100800023=). In August he traveled to York for the International Stakes (G1, 2050 m) and finished fifth of six, with [Ombudsman](https://www.edgepedia.org/ombudsman) winning[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF). Back in Japan he ran third in the [Japan Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/japan-cup) (G1, 2400 m) at Tokyo on 30 November, behind [Calandagan](https://www.edgepedia.org/calandagan), and third again in the Arima Kinen (G1, 2500 m) at Nakayama on 28 December, behind Museum Mile[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF). In the 2025 JRA Awards he placed third for Best Older Colt or Horse with 11 votes[10](https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/news_media/awards/jra/2025.html).
**Five years old.** In 2026 he again ran third in both the Osaka Hai (G1, 2000 m) at Hanshin in April, behind [Croix du Nord](https://www.edgepedia.org/croix-du-nord), and the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2200 m) at Hanshin in June, behind [Meisho Tabaru](https://www.edgepedia.org/meisho-tabaru)[1](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF).
## Assessment
Through his first five seasons Danon Decile compiled a record of 5 wins and 5 thirds from 14 starts, with a 71% rate of top-three finishes but no second placings[3](https://www.racingandsports.com.au/thoroughbred/horse/danon-decile/2105983). His wins came at five different distances from 1800 m to 2410 m[3](https://www.racingandsports.com.au/thoroughbred/horse/danon-decile/2105983). In the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings he was listed at 125, tied for ninth in the world, alongside Calandagan, Fierceness, and Jan Brueghel[11](https://mobile.delmarracing.com/data/pdf/racing/programs/20251101.pdf).
A pedigree analysis of the 2026 Takarazuka Kinen field noted that his sire Epiphaneia transmits sustainability and stamina suited to the Hanshin inner 2200 m course, where runners must use their legs early and hold on through the final slope[12](https://note.com/dear_arnica5624/n/ne77bf2178b26?hl=en).
## References
1. [競走馬情報 ダノンデサイル Danon Decile (JPN), Japan Racing Association](https://jra.jp/JRADB/accessU.html?CNAME=pw01dud002021105143%2FBF)
2. [2024 JRA Awards, Horse Racing in Japan](https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/news_media/awards/jra/2024.html)
3. [Danon Decile Thoroughbred Horse Profile, Racing and Sports](https://www.racingandsports.com.au/thoroughbred/horse/danon-decile/2105983)
4. [Danon Decile Pedigree, Horse Profile, netkeiba](https://en.netkeiba.com/db/horse/ped/2021105143/)
5. [Stallions in Japan 2026: Epiphaneia, JRHA](https://www.jrha.or.jp/stallion_e/horse/?name=Epiphaneia)
6. [Danon Decile (Jpn) Odds, Entries & Racing Form, Betfair Blog](https://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/horse/danon-decile-jpn/000000601454/)
7. [ダノンデサイル Danon Decile, 2024 Tokyo Yushun replay data, JRA](https://www.jra.go.jp/datafile/seiseki/replay/2024/pdf/derby.pdf)
8. [Information as at 18 Oct 2024, The Hong Kong Jockey Club](https://racing.hkjc.com/racing/content/PDF/RaceCard/OSE20241020_starter_s4_all.pdf)
9. [2025 Select Sale Yearlings catalogue, JRHA](https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/cdn.jrha-selectsale.com/pdf/catalogue_2025_yearling.pdf?1773100800023=)
10. [2025 JRA Awards, Horse Racing in Japan](https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/news_media/awards/jra/2025.html)
11. [Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, November 2025](https://mobile.delmarracing.com/data/pdf/racing/programs/20251101.pdf)
12. [2026 Takarazuka Kinen Registered Horses Pedigree Evaluation, note.com](https://note.com/dear_arnica5624/n/ne77bf2178b26?hl=en)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Equestrian and animal sports › Horse racing › Racehorses and breeding › Individual Thoroughbred flat racehorses*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license