G1 Tenno Sho Spring | Horse Racing Free Tips

Justin Palace Grabs Group 1 Glory in Tenno Sho

Installed the second choice behind G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) defending winner Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente (Jpn), Masahiro Miki's Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact (Jpn) followed up on a last-time out victory in the Mar. 19 G2 Hanshin Daishoten to post a comfortable victory in the 3,200 meter fixture, held for the first time at the newly-renovated Kyoto Racecourse.

“The horse was calm throughout the race and I was sure that he was going to win when we moved up behind Deep Bond entering the straight,” commented winning rider Christophe Lemaire. “He has become a super horse over long distances, so I think he will do well in races like [2,500-meter] Arima Kinen in the future.”

Breaking cleanly from the inside post, Justin Palace settled in a ground-saving midpack position before shifting out slightly rounding the second turn. Steadily closing on the front rank while two wide approaching the final turn, the half to MGISW Palace Malice gradually reeled in the late-leading Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), overtook his rival 300 meters out and drew clear en route to a 2-1/2-length victory. Deep Bond held off the fast-closing Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) by a length to mark his third consecutive runner-up finish. Race favorite Titleholder, in the thick of things up front in the early going, lost his advantage 600 meters out and quickly dropped back thereafter and was pulled up Toru Kurita before the final corner. Found to have suffered injury to his right foreleg, the 5-year-old was scheduled to undergo an examination following the race.

A winner of a pair of starts and runner-up in the G1 Hopeful S. as a 2-year-old, the Northern Racing-bred colt was ninth in both the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) early in his 3-year-old season however, returned to take his first graded victory in the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai in September. Third in the 3000-meter G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), he concluded the 2022 season with a seventh in the G1 Arima Kinen in December at Nakayama.

Pedigree Notes:
With Sunday's win in the Tenno Sho, Justin Palace becomes the 59th individual Group 1 winner and the 99th Group 1-level victory for the son of Sunday Silence. The bay is out of the stakes-winning mare Palace Rumor (Royal Anthem), who is most notably responsible for GI Belmont S. and GI Met Mile winner Palace Malice (Curlin). A $1.1 million purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in 2013, the Kentucky-bred mare is also the dam of millionaire and MGSP-Jpn victor Iron Barrows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}).

Sunday, Kyoto, Japan
TENNO SHO (SPRING)-G1, ¥423,100,000, Kyoto, 4-30, 4yo/up, 3200mT, 3:16.10, sf.
1–JUSTIN PALACE (JPN), 128, c, 4, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Palace Rumor (SW-US, $111,833), by Royal Anthem
2nd Dam: Whisperifyoudare, by Red Ransom
3rd Dam: Stellar Affair, by Skywalker
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥190,000,000 Ylg '20 JRHAJUL).
O-Masahiro Miki; B-Northern Farm; T-Haruki Sugiyama;
J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥223,570,000. Lifetime Record:
10-5-1-1, ¥434,666,000. *1/2 to Palace Malice (Curlin),
MGISW, $2,691,135; and Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}),
MGSP-Jpn, $1,327,637. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free
Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Deep Bond (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Kizuna (Jpn)–Zephyranthes (Jpn),
by King Halo (Jpn). O-Shinji Maeda; B-Murata Farm;
¥89,020,000.
3–Silver Sonic (Jpn), 128, h, 7, Orfevre (Jpn)–Air Thule (Jpn), by
Tony Bin (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Shadai Race
Horse; B-Shadai Farm; ¥55,510,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.30, 21.50, 21.50.
Also Ran: Breakup (Jpn), Matenro Leo (Jpn), Boldog Hos (Jpn), End Roll (Jpn), Sanrei Pocket (Jpn), Diastima (Jpn), Humidor (Jpn), Ask Victor More (Jpn), Melody Lane (Jpn), Iron Barows (Jpn), Deep Monster (Jpn), Tosen Cambina (Jpn). DNF: Titleholder (Jpn), African Gold (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart and VIDEO.

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Titleholder Fortified For Tenno Sho Spring Title Defence

Hiroshi Yamada's Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) looms large in Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto. The accomplished 5-year-old entire, if he defends his crown in the 3200-metre affair, will be the sixth horse to pull off the double in consecutive years.

Successful in the 3000-metre G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) as a 3-year-old, the versatile bay added the 2022 edition of this race and the G1 Takarazuka Kinen, cutting back 1000 metres, last June. An attempt at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in boggy ground was met with an unplaced run in October, and Titleholder was also out of the first three in the G1 Arima Kinen to end his year on Christmas Day. In rude health when romping by an imperious eight lengths in the G2 Nikkei Sho at Nakayama on Mar. 25, the morning line favourite will break from stall three under Kazuo Yokoyama.

“I had jockey Kazuo Yokoyama ride him in work last week on the 19 [of April] and he confirmed that the horse had improved following his win by eight lengths in the Nikkei Sho,” said trainer Toru Kurita. “In that race, his result may have been greatly affected by the going and the lineup. I'm not really sure what he would look like to be at peak, and that is meant in a good way as I'm not sure just what he's capable of. I do hope that he'll be able to run his own race and show us his best.”

Right next store to Titleholder is his diminutive older half-sister Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in stall four for Makio Okada and trainer Naoyuki Morita. Fifth in the 2019 Kikuka Sho, she warmed up for this with an 11-place run behind Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Hanshin Daishoten over 3000 metres on Mar. 19. The latter, who ran third in the 2022 Kikuka Sho, is second favourite in the wagering and races for Masahiro Miki from gate one. Star Frenchman Christophe Lemaire is at the controls.

Ask Victor More (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) could give Titleholder a run for his money from barrier six, as long as he improves from his ninth-place finish in the Nikkei Sho. Trained by Yasuhito Tamura, the third-priced favourite won the 2022 Kikuka Sho over Boldog Hos (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) and Justin Palace.

“With the Nikkei Sho as a preliminary, he is definitely sharper, both mentally and physically,” said Tamura. “His results in that race were really unfortunate and this time I've been fine tuning him and fixing anything that needed fixing.”

Titleholder isn't the only horse with a half-sibling in the field, as the long shot and multiple group-placed Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) is a half-brother to the aforementioned Justin Palace.

Another worthy of mention is the globetrotting G3 Red Sea Turf H. hero Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who appeared ageless with his victory at King Abdulaziz Racetrack at the end of February. The ghostly grey will have no problem navigating the 3200-metre trip, as he claimed the 3600-metre G2 Sports Nippon Sho Stayers S. at Nakayama in December.

“His lungs are good and I don't see any fatigue from the trip abroad,” said assistant trainer Yuki Iwasaki. “He had the accident at the break in last year's Tenno Sho (Spring), but he had never had problems before. At seven years of age, I have the impression that he's even stronger than before, so I'm looking forward to things.”

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A Stayer Supreme: Titleholder Wires Tenno Sho

Classic hero Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) secured the 3200-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) in wire-to-wire fashion at Hanshin on Sunday. The first winner to make all of the running since Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) in 2016, Titleholder was followed home by multiple group winner Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who was second in 2021, as well. The progressive G3 Diamond S. winner T O Royal (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) ran third.

Second choice in the wagering at 7-2 behind the even-money pick Deep Bond who also won the G2 Prix Foy when sent abroad for a crack at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last term, the Hiroshi Yamada colourbearer was immediately hustled up to the head of affairs by Kazuo Yokoyama. Crescendo Love (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) kept a close eye on Titleholder, while Tagano Diamante (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) sat third and Deep Bond perched in fourth alongside T O Royal.

Left to his own devices with an open-length lead, Titleholder covered the first half-mile in :48.50 and Yokoyama let up on the gas approaching the half-way point to give his colt a breather. Meanwhile, the stalking horses had to contend with the riderless Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who had dropped his jockey at the break and forged up the rail to sit second in Titleholder's wake. The leader dropped the hammer on his rivals several furlongs later and covered 2400 metres in 2:27.90.

Able to maintain his rhythm from there, the 4-year-old had built up too much cushion and strolled across the line seven lengths to the good of Deep Bond, who had taken over from a leg-weary T O Royal in the final 100 metres, with a length separating them on the line. Titleholder covered his final half-mile in :48.30, with all bar the final furlong navigated in under :12 seconds per furlong.

It was an especially poignant first Group 1 win for Yokoyama, who became the third generation of his family to win the Tenno Sho (Spring). Yokoyama's grandfather Tomio was aboard Mejiro Musashi (Jpn) (Wallaby {Fr}) in 1971, while is father Norihiro enjoyed a treble in the race-Sakura Laurel (Jpn) (Rainbow Quest) in 1995, Ingrandire (Jpn) (White Muzzle {GB}) in 2004 and Gold Ship (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in 2015.

“I felt that he was in good form when I rode him in the post parade, so I just believed in him and concentrated on riding him in [a] good rhythm,” said Yokoyama. “We were able to slow down the pace in the backstretch to conserve his stamina and I was not worried about the horses behind us in the last stretch. I'm happy that I was able to win this race with Titleholder, rather than being able to win my first Group 1 title. I think he will get stronger and stronger going foward.”

First in the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen in March of 2021, the bay was second to eventual Japanese Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) before a pair of unplaced runs in May and September. In October of 2021, he secured the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) with Yokoyama's brother Takeshi at the controls, his first try beyond 2400 metres. Kazuo picked up the ride on Titleholder in the Dec. 26 Arima Kinen, as his brother is the regular rider for Efforia, and reported home fifth, once again to that rival. The 4-year-old colt warmed up for the Tenno Sho with a victory in the 2500-metre G2 Nikkei Sho on Mar. 26.

Pedigree Notes

One of a quartet of black-type winners for Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and dual Classic scorer Duramente, Titleholder is his most decorated runner to date. Stars On Earth (Jpn) is the other Group 1 winner for her sire, having taken the G1 Oka Sho, while Arrivo (Jpn) won the G3 Kokura Daishoten and was third in the G1 Osaka Hai. A grandson of G1 Derby hero Motivator, Titleholder is one of 10 black-type winners–five group–for the stallion as a broodmare sire and only Group 1 victor.

Picked up by LEX for just 30,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from Catridge Farm Stud, agent, in 2009, Mowen did her best running at three and four, winning as short as 1200 metres and up to 2600 metres for five wins from 22 starts on the JRA circuit. Mowen's first foal, the winning Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), was fifth in the 2019 Kikuka Sho and finished ninth to Titleholder on Sunday. She produced a dead foal in 2017 prior to foaling the Tenno Sho winner. She has not had a live foal since Titleholder in 2018, although she has visited in successive years Gold Ship (Jpn), Victoire Pisa (Jpn), and Duramente. A half-sister to listed winner and dual Group 3-placed Zato (Ire) (Zafonic) and black-type winner Krispy Knight (GB) (Kris {GB}), Mowen was covered by Kizuna (Jpn) last spring, but once again failed to add to her brood.

Farther back in the family is dual listed winner and G1 Lockinge S. third Centre Stalls (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}) and Classic winner On The House (Fr) (Be My Guest). That 1979 filly was successful in the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Sussex S., and second and third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, respectively.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
TENNO SHO (SPRING)-G1, ¥385,400,000, Hanshin, 5-1, 4yo/up, 3200mT, 3:16.20, gd.
1–TITLEHOLDER (JPN), 128, c, 4, Duramente (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Mowen (GB), by Motivator (GB)
                2nd Dam: Top Table (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
                3rd Dam: Lora's Guest (Ire), by Be My Guest
(¥20,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi Yamada; B-Okada
Stud (Jpn); T-Toru Kurita; J-Kazuo Yokoyama. ¥203,780,000.
Lifetime Record: 11-5-2-0. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
   Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Deep Bond (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Kizuna (Jpn)–Zephyranthes (Jpn),
by King Halo (Jpn). (¥17,820,000 Ylg '18 JBBAJUL). O-Shinji
Maeda; B-Murata Farm (Jpn); ¥81,080,000.
3–T O Royal (Jpn), 128, c, 4, Leontes (Jpn)–Meisho Ohi (Jpn), by
Manhattan Café (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Tomoya
Ozasa; B-Mishima Bokujo (Jpn); ¥50,540,000.
Margins: 7, 1, 3HF. Odds: 3.90, 1.10, 8.90.
Also Ran: Heat on Beat (Jpn), Iron Barows (Jpn), Meiner Fanrong (Jpn), Robertson Quay (Jpn), Valcos (Jpn), Melody Lane (Jpn), Tosen Cambina (Jpn), Machaon d'Or (Jpn), Divine Force (Jpn), You Can Smile (Jpn), Crescendo Love (Jpn), Hayayakko (Jpn), Heart's Histoire (Jpn), Tagano Diamante (Jpn). DNF: Silver Sonic (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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‘Sho’ And Tell As Stayers Line Up At Hanshin

A full field of 18 line up for Sunday's ¥380,000,000 G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) at Hanshin. Leading the charge in the 3200-metre feature, one of the most lucrative staying contests on the planet, is Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}). Still hunting for his first Group 1 win, the 5-year-old has won two editions of the G2 Hanshin Daishoten, and even took his show on the road last year, with a victory in the G2 Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp. He detested the heavy going in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe there in his next start, but ran a good second to Japanese Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the G1 Arima Kinen on Boxing Day, prior to defending his Hanshin Daishoten title on Mar. 20.

Trainer Ryuji Okubo said of his charge's draw widest of all in gate 18, “He can race from any position, I believe. Depending on how the horses on the inside will run, he will be able to stay further, otherwise he can race handy if he steps well from the gate.”

Last year's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) hero Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramenta {Jpn}) will not make it an easy task. Also entering the Tenno Sho on a victory, after running out the winner in the G2 Nikkei Sho at Nakayama on Mar. 26, the 4-year-old has pleased trainer Toru Kurita in his most recent work.

Kurita, who supervised Titleholder's final fast piece of work on Miho's woodchip track on Apr. 27, said, “He has done all he needed last week, so I did not give him too much work this week, just keep his condition and checked his balance and saw his changing leads. There is no issue. About draw 16, we just do our best. We will talk the tactics with jockey [Kazuki

Yokoyama].”

Knocking on the door in group company is Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}). Tested beyond the Tenno Sho's trip on Dec. 4, he ran second in the 3600-metre G2 Sports Nippon Sho Stayers S. at Nakayama and resumed with another second-place effort in the 3000-metre Hanshin Daishoten in the wake of Deep Bond.

Trainer Hiroyuki Uemura said, “He has lots of Orfevre–his heart and lungs are very strong, and he has stamina and is a gutsy colt.”

Riding a four-race winning streak, T O Royal (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) is making his third start in group company. Successful in the 3400-metre G3 Diamond S. at Tokyo, this will be the 4-year-old's first try at the highest level.

“He is fit and ready,” said trainer Inao Okada. “He is in good form both mentally and physically. The draw [in seven] is a good draw.”

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