The Tokyo Yushun (Gr 1, 2400m), the Japanese Derby, will be run behind closed doors for the first time since World War II, the Japan Racing Association announced yesterday.

The Tokyo Yushun is expected to feature another battle between top three-year-olds Contrail and Salios.

As well as the Tokyo Yushun, all of Japan’s Group one features in May – the Tenno Sho (Gr.1, 3200m), the NHK Mile (Gr.1, 1600m), the Victoria Mile (Gr.1, 1600m) and the Japanese Oaks, the Yushun Himba (Gr 1, 2400m) – will be run without crowds, with the situation to be reassessed in late May.

The Tokyo Yushun, which dates back to 1932, was run in secret in 1944 by directive of the Tojo war cabinet.