Seven-time Group 1 winner Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) will attempt to add another top-level score to her already impressive record in Sunday’s 2,000-meter G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo. Winner of the filly Triple Crown in 2018 before scoring in the G1 Japan Cup, the 5-year-old mare added a pair of Group 1 wins in 2019 in the Dubai Turf and last fall’s Tenno Sho, beating Danon Premium (Jpn). A lack-luster ninth in the 2,500-meter G1 Arima Kinen in December, she made a belated start to the 2020 season following the cancellation of the Dubai World Cup Carnival in March, winning the May 17 G1 Victoria Mile over 1,600 meters. In her latest start, she finished second over slightly heavy going behind Gran Alegria (Jpn) in Tokyo’s G1 Yasuda Kinen June 7.
According to trainer Sakae Kunieda, Almond Eye has had the same schedule as she did last year, getting some down time over the summer at Northern Farm Tenei in Fukushima before returning to the training center Oct. 2.
“Last week she looked a bit heavy, but her breathing wasn’t bad. Her movement was the usual,” said Kunieda. “With this field, I expect the pace to be slow, so I’m hoping she’ll leave the gate relatively well and have a smooth trip.”
Almond Eye has finished in the top three in all her seven starts at Tokyo and won five times, four of those in Group 1s. Christophe Lemaire, who has ridden all but one of the mare’s 13 career outings, is slated to ride Sunday.
Facing the mighty mare Sunday is 4-year-old filly Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}), victorious over the re-opposing Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin June 28. Last season’s G1 Shuka Sho hero kicked off 2020 with a win over the yielding turf in the 2,200-meter G2 Kyoto Kinen in February before finishing second in the G1 Osaka Hai in April.
Also looking to add a second straight victory is Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who successfully defended his title in the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) last May. The three-time Group 1 winner will receive the services of Yuichi Fukunaga in this return.
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