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Almond Eye Prevails Over G1 Winners in Tenno Sho (Autumn)

Heavily favored Almond Eye won this year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn) in dominating fashion once again in a run which was just short by 0.1 second to renew the race record while easily conquering a formidable field which included nine other G1 winners. The 2018 Horse of the Year claimed last year’s fillies’ Triple Crown—the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m), the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m) and the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m)—and the Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m). This year, after capturing the Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m), she registered a third in the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) where she encountered a disadvantage immediately after her break. This Tenno Sho (Autumn) triumph is trainer Sakae Kunieda’s 16th JRA-G1 victory—his latest was last year’s Japan Cup with the filly and latest Tenno Sho win was in the spring version of 2009 with Meiner Kitz. For jockey Christophe Lemaire, who had won last year’s version with Rey de Oro and this year’s Tenno Sho (Spring) with Fierement, this is his 27th JRA-G1 title—his most recent was the Sprinters Stakes victory with Tower of London four weeks earlier.

As expected, Aerolithe went straight to the front and set a slow pace with Stiffelio and Saturnalia on her heels while Almond Eye, who broke from an inner stall, was reserved in sixth to seventh on the rails. The field maintained its form of a long line entering the lane, giving little room for Almond Eye to shift out for her run. However, Christophe Lemaire calmly waited in early stretch and let the filly shoot out on an inner path, swooping past all competition by the furlong marker to cruise to a convincing three-length win.

“She was well rested after a long break and showed her true strength today. We were able to follow Aerolithe and Saturnalia in a good position, found a good opening on the rails and she just stretched beautifully from there. Personally, I’m delighted to have won the last Tenno Sho of the Heisei era and the first of the Reiwa era,” commented Christophe Lemaire.

Third favorite and 2017 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Danon Premium traveled a half-length in front of the eventual winner in fifth up to the final turn, fought with Aerolithe, Saturnalia and Almond Eye briefly before the furlong pole and secured the runner-up seat, holding off the persistent challenge from Aerolithe by a neck.

Other Horses:
4th: (6) You Can Smile—took economic trip in 13th, switched to outside, showed belated charge, timed fastest over last 3 furlongs
5th: (14) Wagnerian—traveled in 12th, turned smoothly into lane, accelerated in last 200m, failed to threaten
6th: (10) Saturnalia—chased leaders in 3rd, ran gamely until 200m pole, weakened thereafter
7th: (4) Suave Richard—ran behind winner around 9th, quickened in last 100m, belatedly
8th: (15) Win Bright—raced 3-wide in 8th, switched to outside at early stretch, even paced
9th: (3) Keiai Nautique—saved ground 2nd from rear, showed effort along rails but never a threat
10th: (8) Makahiki—sat 3rd from rear, circled wide, passed tired rivals
11th: (11) Go for the Summit—hugged rails around 11th, lacked needed kick at stretch
12th: (7) Stiffelio—stalked leader in 2nd, gradually fell back after 400m pole
13th: (1) Cadenas—trailed in far rear, unable to reach contention
14th: (16) Al Ain—made headway to 7th from widest stall in backstretch, never fired at stretch
15th: (13) Run for the Roses—traveled 3-wide around 10th, showed little at stretch
16th: (12) Dreadnoughtus—advanced to 4th from wide draw, faded after 3rd corner

THE 160TH TENNO SHO (AUTUMN) (G1)
3-year-olds & up, 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs), turf, left-handed
Sunday, October 27, 2019    Tokyo Racecourse      11th Race        Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 325,000,000 (about US$ 2,826,000 <US$1=¥115>)
3-y-o: 56kg (about 124 lbs), 4-y-o & up: 58kg (about 128 lbs),
2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares, 2kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2016
Safety factor: 18 runners

1. 1.Almond Eye (JPN), bay, filly, 4-year-olds
   Lord Kanaloa / Fusaichi Pandora (Sunday Silence)
   

   Owner: Silk Racing Co., Ltd.	Breeder: Northern Racing
   Trainer: Sakae Kunieda	Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
   10 Starts, 8 Wins
   Added money: ¥ 153,402,000	Career earnings: ¥ 1,297,811,900

   
   
2. 2.Danon Premium (JPN), dark bay or brown, colt, 4-year-olds
   Deep Impact / Indiana Gal (Intikhab)
   

   Owner: Danox Co., Ltd.	Breeder: K. I. Farm
   Trainer: Mitsumasa Nakauchida	Jockey: Yuga Kawada

   
   
3. 3.Aerolithe (JPN), gray, mare, 5-year-olds
   Kurofune / Asterix (Neo Universe)
   

   Owner: Sunday Racing Co., Ltd.	Breeder: Northern Racing
   Trainer: Takanori Kikuzawa	Jockey: Keita Tosaki

* Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1)

“The Emperor’s Cup” was first held in 1905 to encourage the horse racing sport through annual events that gave the winner the highest honor of being awarded the Imperial prize. Then the Tenno Sho (Autumn) was established in 1937 together with its counterpart, Tenno Sho (Spring), under the name “Teishitsu Goshoten Kyoso” and held biannually in both the Eastern and Western part of Japan. The race was officially renamed the “Tenno Sho” in 1947. Both the spring and autumn races, which secured its status as the most prestigious events for older horses, were run over 3,200 meters in the early years. Later, the autumn version was shortened to 2,000 meters in 1984 so that the spring version could determine the best stayer, while the Tenno Sho (Autumn) would be the main target for middle-distance champions. This also gives the three-year-olds, who find the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m), to be beyond their suitability, an alternative G1 as the ultimate goal for their autumn campaign. The Tenno Sho (Autumn) entered a new chapter in its long history when opening its doors to foreign contenders as an international race in 2005.
Last year, Rey de Oro (JPN, by King Kamehameha) claimed his second G1 title in the race following his Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) victory and was awarded the JRA Award for Best Older Colt or Horse that year.
This year’s stellar field included 2018 Horse of the Year Almond Eye and 2017 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Danon Premium who were entered after marking a third and 16th, respectively, in the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) in June. Coming off a third and fourth, respectively, in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m; Jun.23) were two Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m) winners, Suave Richard (2018) and Al Ain (2019). Stiffelio registered his third graded title in the All Comers (G2, 2,200m; Sep.22) in which Hong Kong’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,000m) winner Win Bright was ninth. Also among the line-up were You Can Smile, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) champion Saturnalia and Dreadnoughtus who came into the race after claiming wins in the Niigata Kinen (G3, 2,000m; Sep.1), the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,400m; Sep.22) and the Kyoto Daishoten (G2, 2,400m; Oct.6), respectively, as well as G1 winners Wagnerian, Keiai Nautique, Aerolithe and Makahiki.
The race record 1:56.1 was set by Tosen Jordan (JPN, by Jungle Pocket) in 2011.