Sunday 29 April sees the running of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring), over 3200m at Kyoto racecourse. 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 135th running of the Tenno Sho (the 68th 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, Deep Impact produced one of his best ever performances to smash the 3200m record, running 3:13.4 for the distance which was a full second faster than the previous record. Unfortunately there is no Deep Impact this year, but nevertheless, a high quality field has lined up for the race which promises to be a fascinating contest.
Below is a brief description of the major chances in Sunday's race:
Meisho Samson. Winner of the first two legs of the Japanese triple crown [ the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) ] last year. Was disappointing last autumn in Japan's biggest races, but showed he may be back to his best form with a convincing win in the Grade 2 Osaka Cup last start. That was an easier field than he meets here, but if he is truly back to his best he will be very hard to beat, and is likely to start favorite on Sunday.
Delta Blues. Winner of the 2004 Grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) (3000m), the 2005 Grade 2 Stayers Stakes (3600m) and finished 3rd in the 2004 Grade 1 Japan Cup (2400m) before traveling to Australia and winning the valuable Group 1 Melbourne Cup last year. A true stayer who has very good form at Kyoto racecourse (including his Kikuka Sho win) so will likely start as one of the favored runners. His lead up run finishing 4th in the Grade 2 Hanshin Daishoten (3000m) was a very good run under the circumstances, and if Sunday's race becomes a test of stamina, he will be very hard to hold out.
Eye Popper. Winner of the lead-up Hanshin Daishoten, beating some of Japan's best stayers in Dream Passport, Delta Blues and Tokai Trick. Has been racing consistently in recent starts, and looks one of the major hopes here. Finished 4th in this race behind Deep Impact last year after his trip to Australia where he finished 2nd in the Caulfield Cup. Does not like rain, so will need the track dry on Sunday.
Tokai Trick. A very good stayer who finally picked up a Grade win when winning the Grade 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) earlier this year. Finished 3rd in the Hanshin Daishoten leadup, but like Delta Blues, was not suited by the lack of early pace. Looks one of the better chances here.
Tosho Knight. A good stayer who went winless for over 18 months before beating Cosmo Bulk in a Sapporo open last year. Has since won the Grade 2 Copa Republica Argentina and been placed in three other Grade 2 races. Was finishing on strongly when 4th in this race two years ago at his only try at 3200m, so the jump in distance should help.
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. Ran 6th in the Hanshin Daishoten before winning his last start in open class over 2400m running 33.2 seconds for his last 600m. Always a knockout chance.
Never Bouchon. A 4yo who struggled last year but has really come into his own this year winning all three starts. He took the step up to Grade 2 last start beating the older horses including Tosho Knight, so he needs to be respected. This is harder once again, but we may not have seen the best of this up and coming stayer.
Matsurida Gogh. Another 4yo horse who struggled last year but always showed promise. This year he won the Grade 2 American Jockey Club Cup at his first start and finished 3rd in another Grade 2 last start. He is very promising and a forward showing can be expected here. Being a son of Sunday Silence always seems to help in Japan's big races too!
Erimo Expire. A 4yo who took 7 starts to break through for his first win but has since put in some good performances at Group level. His 2nd in the Diamond Stakes behind Tokai Trick earlier this year shows that he needs to be given some kind of chance in this race.
Swift Current. A son of Sunday Silence who has been disappointing since finishing 2nd behind Daiwa Major in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last year. He has ability as shown in that run, but this distance may be too far for him.
Dark Message. A promising 4yo son of Dance in the Dark who has been placed in his last 5 starts. His breeding suggests he will be suited by the 3200m (he is yet to be tried beyond 2500m), and although this is a much better field than he has faced before, he needs to be given some chance.
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.
Tokai Elite. A 7yo son of Sunday Silence who has only had one start at Grade level and that was 2 starts ago for a very close 2nd. Definitely has ability and is said to be in great condition at the moment.
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