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Danon Decile Excels Over Strong Field in Tenno Sho (Autumn)

Fourth favorite Danon Decile captured his third G1 title in this year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn) becoming the first horse since Symboli Kris S in 2003 to score the win from the widest draw. In 2024, the son of Epiphaneia topped the three-year-olds when claiming the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) and added another G1 victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m) the next spring. After posting a fifth in the International Stakes (G1, 2,050m) in Great Britain last summer, he continued to struggle marking four consecutive third-place finishes at G1 level—the Japan Cup (2,400m) and the Arima Kinen (2,500m) last year, then the Osaka Hai (2,000m) and the Takarazuka Kinen (2,200m) this spring. Trainer Shogo Yasuda registered his third JRA-G1 title after this year’s Sprinters Stakes with Puro Magic while jockey Keita Tosaki tallied his 16th G1 title following his success in the Shuka Sho with Monroe Walk two weeks earlier. This victory marked their first Tenno Sho titles in both the spring and autumn editions.

Breaking smoothly from the farthest stall, Danon Decile was unhurried in second from the rear before launching his bid with a wide sweeping move into the straight. From there, with a tremendous burst of speed, the son of Epiphaneia thundered down the stretch, taking command over his rivals rallying for the lead at the furlong pole and held off a late challenge by the runner-up to prevail by a 2-1/2-length margin.

“To be honest, the widest draw took us by surprise and we were forced to change tactics, but today, the most important factor was to keep him in good rhythm, which he did, fortunately. He responded a bit earlier than I hoped but he stayed on to the wire and I’m truly happy that he was able to show his true ability at last,” commented Keita Tosaki after the race.

Half-brother to 2019 Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux, eighth pick Nebra Disk saved ground around 12th early and although meeting traffic in early stretch, responded well in the last 300 meters to briefly threaten Danon Decile. While no match for the winner’s late speed, the son of Duramente secured the runner-up spot, 3/4 lengths over Regaleira.

Third favorite and sole mare Regaleira traveled in front of Masquerade Ball and Nebra Disk earlier and after entering the stretch, found an opening just on the rails to launch her late charge. The Suave Richard mare joined the rally passing the 200-meter pole but was overtaken by the winner and failed to close in on the eventual runner-up while holding off the rest of the field by 1-1/4 lengths for third place.

Race favorite Croix Du Nord took a ground-saving trip after breaking from the innermost stall in around sixth position from the front. As the field bunched up heading into the straight, the multiple G1 winner in tight quarters angled off the rails but continued to struggle behind horses into the last furlong and was unable to display his trademark turn of foot, finishing fifth.

Other Horses:
4th: (14) Tagano Dude—trailed in rear, angled out to launch 2nd fastest late drive but belatedly
6th: (11) Shake Your Heart—sat wide in front of winner, passed tired rivals
7th: (8) Jun Blossom—ran around 12th, circled wide, lacked needed kick
8th: (15) Sakura Farrel—traveled wide around 9th, accelerated until 100m out
9th: (12) Cosmo Kuranda—tracked leaders around 3rd, showed effort but even paced in last 100m
10th: (6) Seiun Hades—settled around 6th, joined rally for lead briefly, weakened thereafter
11th: (7) Masquerade Ball—unhurried around 14th, struggled to find clear path in stretch
12th: (16) Giovanni—sat near pace from widest draw, checked by rival 200m out, lost momentum
13th: (5) Champagne Color—raced near rear, switched to outside at early stretch, never fired
14th: (9) Ho O Biscuits—chased leaders in 3rd, sustained bid up to 200m pole
15th: (13) Realize Sirius—stalked pace in 2nd, dropped back in last 400m
16th: (2) Elton Barows—traveled around 7th, checked by rival at early stretch, showed little
17th: (4) Readiness—set pace, used up after climbing up hill

THE 174TH TENNO SHO (AUTUMN) (G1)
3-year-olds & up, 2,000 meters (about 10 furlongs), turf, left-handed
Sunday, November 1, 2026      Tokyo Racecourse        11th Race         Post time: 15:40
Total prize money: ¥ 651,000,000 (about US$ 4,200,000 <US$1=¥155>)
3-y-o: 56kg (about 123-124 lbs), 4-y-o & up: 58kg (about 128 lbs),
2kg allowance for Fillies & Mares, 2kg allowance for Southern Hemisphere-bred born in 2023
Course record: 1:55.2              Race record: 1:55.2 [Equinox (JPN, by Kitasan Black), 2023]
Safety factor: 18 runners          Going: Good to Firm      Weather: Fine

Turnover for the Race alone: ¥ 25,647,134,800       Turnover for the Day: ¥ 37,942,769,300       Attendance: 74,625

Winner= 15 starts: 6 wins & 5 thirds / Added & stakes money: ¥ 303,570,000 / Career earnings: ¥ 1,844,444,400

* Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1)

“The Emperor’s Cup” was first held in 1905 to promote 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 parts of Japan. The race was officially renamed the “Tenno Sho” in 1947. Both the spring and autumn races, which secured their 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.
This year, defending champion Masquerade Ball came into the race aiming to bounce back from a dismal seventh in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1, 2,390m, Jul.25). Four-time G1 winner Croix du Nord and 2024 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) victor Danon Decile came off a close second and a third, respectively, in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m, Jun.14). Seiun Hades won his third graded title in the Mainichi Okan (G2, 1,800m, Oct.4), one of the main prep races, with 2024 Tenno Sho (Autumn) third-place finisher Ho O Biscuits behind him in second and the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) runner-up Realize Sirius in seventh. The field also included three-time G1 champion mare Regaleira and last year’s Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m) runner-up Cosmo Kuranda, who finished fourth and 11th, respectively, in the All Comers (G2, 2,200m, Sep.20). Shake Your Heart and Giovanni, respective winners of the Sapporo Kinen (G2, 2,000m, Aug.16) and the Challenge Cup (G3, 2,000m, Sep.12) were also among the lineup.