Sunday 30 April sees the running of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring), over 3200m at Kyoto racecourse. Last year's running of this race attracted plenty of international attention, with the champion Australian staying mare Makybe Diva making the trip, however there are no international participants lining up this year.
The Tenno Sho evolved from early races in Japan, where several racing clubs around the country held races for the first prize of a trophy provided by the Emperor, the very first of which was held by the Japan Race Club of Yokohama in 1905. In 1937, the various Japanese local race clubs merged and formerly established a national "Emperor's Cup", which has been held semi-annually (the Spring version in the western Kansai region, and the Autumn version in Tokyo) ever since. The first running of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) over 2600m in Tokyo, was won by Happy Might , and the first winner of the Tenno Sho (Spring) over 2700m at Hanshin racecourse in Osaka, was Hase Park . The race on Sunday is the 133rd running of the Tenno Sho (the 67th running of the Spring version) - the race was not held in 1945 and 1946, due to the war.
The track at Kyoto where the Tenno Sho (Spring) is currently run, is a wide spacious one, with a long 404m stretch. There is over 300m to the first turn after the field jumps from the 3200m start position so there is no huge disadvantage for horses drawn wide. The feature of the Kyoto course is the steep uphill run from the 1200m to the 800m point, and then the sudden downhill run from the 800m to the 400m point, after which the course is almost flat. The field of the Tenno Sho (Spring) are required to climb and then come down this hill twice as they run 1 1/2 laps of the Kyoto course.
Since the distance of the Tenno Sho (Spring) was changed to 3200m (in 1938), the race has been won by many of the champions of the Japanese turf. The winners list includes horses such as Ten Point , Symboli Rudolf , Mejiro McQueen , Biwa Hayahide , and in the past 10 years, T M Opera O and Special Week would be 2 of the best internationally known performers who have won the race. Last year, the race produced an upset result when Sunday Silence entire Suzuka Mambo (13th favorite) beat the battling race leader Big Gold (14th favorite) ahead of some the more fancied runners who did not finish on as expected. Although there was no standout favorite for the race last year, there were several very competent performers including the consistent performer Lincoln , Makybe Diva of course, and also the now much improved Heart's Cry who recently convincingly won the Grade 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai.
However, this year, the race features Japanese thoroughbred star - Deep Impact. The 2005 JRA Horse of the Year disappointed when failing to catch Heart's Cry in the Arima Kinen in December last year, but the 3yo triple crown winner showed that he was back to his brilliant best in the Grade 2 Hanshin Daishoten (3000m) on 19th March, taking his record to 8 wins and 1 second from 9 starts. In that lead-up to this race, Deep Impact sat at the back of the small field in the early stages of the race, before producing a devastating burst to surge around the field and hit the lead at the top of the straight. He careered away in the straight, and won by 3 1/2 lengths eased down. Many of the top chances for the Tenno Sho (Spring) were in that field, and it would be a huge boilover if any of those horses were to turn the tables on Deep Impact next Sunday.
In what looks a race for second, there are 20 other nominated horses. Below is a brief description of each horse:
Eye Popper . Will be well known to Australian racing fans, as not only did he beat home Champion Australian mare Makybe Diva when finishing 3rd in this race last year, he almost won the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) when he travelled to Australia for the Melbourne Spring Carnival last year - finishing 2nd after traveling wide throughout. However he disappointed in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after the Caulfield Cup, and didn't do much when 6th behind Deep Impact last start. He will be fitter for the hit-out though, and if the track is good next Sunday, he must have some hope of filling the placings.
Admire Monarch . A promising looking up and coming stayer, who has been placed in all of his last 8 starts, including a 2nd over 3000m, but he failed badly at his only start (from 27 in total) at Grade level. This is obviously a huge jump in class and at this stage of his career, even a placing would surprise.
Silk Famous. A class performer who has been placed at Grade 1 level on 3 occasions - including in this race 2 years ago, before finishing 5th last year. Missed the Japanese autumn last year, but has had 4 runs back this year, and his last 3 efforts have been sound. At his best, he would need to be respected as a serious place chance.
Stratagem. A promising Sunday Silence entire who has never been able to break through at the top level, but has been placed twice in Grade 2 races, as well as finishing a close up 5th behind Delta Blues in the 2004 Grade 1 Kikka Sho (St Leger equivalent) over 3000m at this track. Has the potential to finish in the placings here.
Chakra. At one stage, this horse looked like becoming a top line stayer, with wins in the Grade 2 Stayers Stakes (3600m) and the Grade 2 Meguro Kinen (2500m) in late 2003 and early 2004 respectively, but has not won since that Meguro Kinen victory, so it is hard to imagine him being competitive in this field.
Delta Blues. Winner of the 2004 Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (3000m), the 2005 Grade 2 Stayers Stakes (3600m) and finished 3rd in the 2004 Grade 1 Japan Cup (2400m). A classy horse who was well beaten by Deep Impact in the lead up for this race, but does have very good form at Kyoto racecourse (including his Kikuka Sho win) so will likely start as one of the favored runners.
Tokai Come Come. Another promising up and comer, who has won his last 3 starts. Looks to be a nice horse, but has never even started in a Grade race, let alone a Grade 1, so this is a huge leap in class.
Tokai Trick. Maybe the horse in the race who has the best chance of beating Deep Impact . Has unlimited stamina, and since connections found the key to him last start in leading, it is likely he will take up the leading role once again here. He finished 2nd to Deep Impact last start, but he held off all other challengers well. If he can lead, and turn the race into a test of stamina, he just may be able to control the race so that Deep Impact is too far back, or is found at the distance (Deep Impact has won both his 3000m races, but is untried over further, and his sister was a top sprinter, so there may be some questions over his stamina). The way the race is run is the key to this horse's chances, but as the likely leader, he should give his followers a thrill during the race.
Narita Century. A hard horse to catch recently, with 2 Grade 2 wins but 5 non-placed efforts from his last 7 starts. Won the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen (19th February) at his last start on a heavy track, but has had a few problems since, and this will be his first start since.
Hi Friend Try. Ran past some very tired horses when finishing 4th behind Deep Impact in the Grade 2 Hanshin Daishoten. Deserves more respect than he had that day (started at approximately 150/1), but still even a placing here would surprise, as he is yet to earn a win at Grade level.
Big Gold. Has been tried several times at Grade level since finishing 2nd in this race last year. Has failed on every occasion, and with Tokai Trick likely to go hard early in this race, it seems that Big Gold will have a much tougher run here than he did last year when he took the lead midway through the race before hanging on for 2nd.
Fast Tateyama. A two-time Grade 2 winner who has been one of the most consistent stayers in Japan over the past few years. As always, he will probably not be very popular with the punters in Japan, but he has a history of producing huge runs in big races at Kyoto racecourse (including a 2nd in the 2002 Grade 1 Kikuka Sho over 3000m at 90/1). Any rain would bring him into the race even more.
Blue Tornado. An improved effort over 2500m when finishing 3rd in the Grade 2 Nikkei Sho last start must have tempted connections to try the horse over this distance at this level, but on exposed form, this looks a very tough task for a horse who was well beaten when finishing 13th behind Delta Blues in the 2004 Kikuka Sho in his only run at Grade 1 level.
Macky Max. This horse has always shown plenty of potential, and looks to have finally hit top form heading into this race. Turned in an eye-catching performance to finished 2nd behind the very good middle distance horse Company in the Grade 2 Osaka Cup (2000m) last start, and that was after winning the Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) in February. Races from behind, so it is difficult to imagine him finishing better than Deep Impact , but is definitely one of the better place chances in the race.
Marble Chief. Hard to see this horse troubling this field with no wins since a Grade 2 win in 2003, and placings of 12th, 13th, and 18th from 3 Grade 1 races.
Lincoln. Always a favorite of Japanese punters, but has never been able to break through for a win at Grade 1 level. Is clearly the 2nd best performed horse in the race with a 3rd behind Heart's Cry and Deep Impact in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen last year, a career best performance. Has also finished 4th in the Grade 1 Japan Cup, and has won 3 Grade 2 races, including the Grade 2 Nikkei Sho last start (2500m). Will start 2nd or 3rd favorite and has an obvious place chance.
Rosenkreuz. Finished 3rd behind Deep Impact in the 3rd leg of the 3yo triple crown (3000m Kikuka Sho) last year, and looks like a real stayer. Is yet to win against the older horses in his two starts this year, but has finished close up both times, and should go well here providing the track is good.
Water League. A dirt performer who is very unlikely to line up here.
Osumi Grass One. Unlikely to run.
Tosho Knight. Unlikely to run.
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