Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) - Preview

Croix du Nord

Masquerade Ball

Danon Decile

Regaleira

Seiun Hades

Shake Your Heart

Realize Sirius

Sakura Farrel

After two straight weeks of Classics, out come the big guns. The Tenno Sho (Autumn) kicks off what is known as the “triple crown” for all ages, not just the 3-year-olds. The three races are the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Japan Cup on Nov. 29, and the Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) on Dec. 27.

Coupled with the longer Tenno Sho (Spring) but held at Kyoto over 3,200 meters, this Sunday’s Tenno Sho (Autumn) is run at Tokyo Racecourse over 2,000 meters. It will mark the 174th running of the Tenno Sho, a race first staged at Yokohama’s Negishi Racecourse in 1905.

Nominations for this year’s competition closed on Oct. 18 and 17 horses ranging from 3-7 years old have been nominated for the available 18 berths. It is a classy lineup, one very much befitting the occasion. Attention is expected to focus on two standout contenders: last year’s winner, Masquerade Ball, and Croix du Nord, a four-time G1 winner who captured the Tenno Sho (Spring).

Open to 3-year-olds and up, this year's prospective field boasts five G1 winners - namely, Croix du Nord, Champagne Color, Danon Decile, Masquerade Ball and Regaleira, the only mare set to participate. The youngest participant is the 3-year-old Satsuki Sho runner-up Realize Sirius, the oldest are Jun Blossom and Seiun Hades, both 7 years old.

The Tokyo 2,000 meters is considered one of the most difficult races. It starts in the pocket to the right of the grandstand and the field turns into the backstretch just 100 meters from the gate. Inner gates are definitely advantageous. Only one horse who broke further out than the No. 8 gate (Almond Eye in 2020) has won the race in the past decade. A runner from a double-digit gate has finished in second place once in the last 10 runnings, and two times in third place.

Betting favorites have traditionally been a strong choice. Over the last 10 runnings, the No. 1 pick has won seven times and finished in second place once. Rank outsiders have a hard time getting close to the front. A double-digit choice has only made the Top 3 places twice over the last decade.

Equinox holds the race record of 1 minute, 55.2 seconds set in 2023.

The Tenno Sho (Autumn) is the No. 11 race on the Sunday card of 12 at Tokyo. Post time is 15:40 Japan time.

Here is a closer look at some of the leading contenders.

Croix du Nord: Croix du Nord has had an outstanding career thus far, with seven wins (including four Grade 1s) and two second-place finishes (both G1s) from 11 starts. Earlier this year, he won the Osaka Hai & the Tenno Sho (Spring), but he finally missed capturing the final leg of the spring “triple crown” for older horses, the Takarazuka Kinen, by a mere neck. Sudden heavy rain just before the Takarazuka Kinen turned the going from fast to slow. Still, Croix du Nord’s losing margin was slight and the distance to third-place finisher Danon Decile was a full 2 1/2 lengths. Last year after winning the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Croix du Nord returned in the autumn to take on two races in France. He captured the Grade 3 Prix Du Prince d'Orange, then ran in the Arc with poor results. He has run in Tokyo and had three wins out of four starts thus far. He is refreshed, and has a record of good results returning unprepped after a spell. Trainer Takashi Saito commented: “His responses have improved with each bit of fast work and there are no concerns about his condition or his movement. He’s switched on.” New partner Cristian Demuro is expected to take the reins this time.

Masquerade Ball: A 4-year-old by Duramente, Masquerade Ball defends his title with a second run in the Tenno Sho (Autumn). After clinching his first G1 title with this race, he took on the Japan Cup and lost by a head to Calandagan, later named the world’s No. 1 racehorse. After time off, Masquerade Ball flew to Hong Kong and missed winning the Queen Elizabeth II Cup by a length, then finished seventh of nine in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in late July. Back-to-back Tenno Sho (Autumn) have only been won by three horses in the past - Symboli Kris S, Almond Eye and Equinox. Christophe Lemaire, who has ridden Masquerade Ball’s last four starts, is expected up. Lemaire has won the Tenno Sho nine times - three in the spring version and six in the autumn version. Trainer Takahisa Tezuka said: “The left-handed course and the long stretch should pose no problems. He has been coming along just fine and I am looking forward to seeing what he’ll do this year too.”

Danon Decile: The son of Epiphaneia captured the Japanese Derby in 2024, finished the year with a third in the Arima Kinen and the following spring topped Calandagan in winning the Grade 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan. From last year’s Japan Cup, he’s had a string of third-place finishes, all in G1 events. No matter how you look at it, there’s nothing shabby about him. He is consistently running. Although his best performances have all come at distances longer than 2,000 meters, a good performance on Sunday is not to be ruled out. Keita Tosaki, partnered with Danon Decile in six of his last seven starts, rode fast work last week. The horse moved powerfully for a time of 78.1 seconds over six furlongs on the woodchip flat course. “There have been no problems with his condition, but he has developed a tendency to lean toward the right,” trainer Shogo Yasuda said. “We will be discussing what kind of tack could help him there and we should have that remedied by raceday.”

Regaleira: Now 5 years old, this daughter of Suave Richard has three top-level wins to her name, including the 2024 Arima Kinen, a win that made her the first 3-year-old filly to land the Arima Kinen in 64 years. After winning last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup, her next two bids (both G1s) brought a 4-7 result. The two races were six months apart and her first experience over heavy ground. Another three months later, she was given her most recent test, the Grade 2 Sankei Sho All Comers, where she finished fourth. her record includes one third-place finish and two fifths, including a fifth in the 2024 Japanese Derby, suggesting that the direction should pose no particular problems. She will also carry 2kg less than all other runners except the 3-year-old Realize Sirius. New partner Mirai Iwata is expected up.

Seiun Hades: In May of last year, the 7-year-old Seiun Hades by Silver State won the Grade 3 Epsom Cup in record time, but then developed a severe case of tendonitis. He returned for the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and finished in seventh place (0.4 seconds behind the winner). Afterward, he failed to make the board in his next two outings but returned this spring to post a fifth and a sixth in the Osaka Hai and Yasuda Kinen, respectively. After a four-month spell, a good draw and an ideal trip helped boost him to victory in the Grade 2 Mainichi Okan over 1,800 meters at Tokyo. “He took on this race last here without a prep, so this year he should be better,” trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi said. “Hideaki Miyuki in the saddle gives me confidence. The horse is running good to the left in morning work. He has a big stride, so Tokyo is surely the best venue for him.”

Shake Your Heart: The very consistent 6-year-old by Heart’s Cry has made the Top 3in 21 races from his 31 career starts thus far. Raced largely in the 2,000-2,200 meter range, six of his seven wins have been over 2,000 meters. After notching his first graded stakes win, the Grade 2 Kinko Sho over 2,000 meters at Chukyo in mid-March, he returned three months later for his first G1 bid, the Takarazuka Kinen, but did poorly over the heavy ground to finish 14th of 18. In his most recent start, he captured the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen in mid-August over 2,000 meters. Though it will be his first time at Tokyo and his Ritto base means he’ll have the long haul to deal with, his three wins at Chukyo indicate the lefthanded track shouldn’t pose a problem.

Others of interest are:

Realize Sirius has two G3s to his name, as well as a second in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) over 2,000 meters and a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes. He returned after his Derby run to finish 7th in the Mainichi Okan. He has early speed and, being only 3 years old, may be able to make good use of his 2-kg advantage.
Although it was at the 2-win level, Sakura Farrel has won over the Tokyo 2,000 meters. He has four wins and three seconds from his nine career starts. He finished out of the Top 3 twice, but still on the board. He returns from a second 2 1/2 lengths behind Shake Your Heart in the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen over the same distance. Consistency has been his trademark and may stand him well in his first top-level contest.