Three Japanese equine heavyweights – Contrail, Gran Alegria and Efforia – share top billing in Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m, or 1 1/4 miles) in the latest renewal of one of the nation's most prestigious races.
Contrail seeks glory in the “Emperor's Prize” as successor to the mighty Almond Eye after finishing third in the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) at Hanshin Racecourse, where he did not appreciate the heavy ground. Fortuitously, there is no rain forecast this weekend in Tokyo and stable expectations are high.
Contrail has thrived during trackwork over the past two weeks, needing no urging. Last week, under jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, Contrail looked strong working on the woodchip flat course.
“His heart and lungs were tuned up and last week we just checked his responses and turn of foot. Everything is fabulous,” Fukunaga said.
On Wednesday this week, the colt breezed up the hill.
“It was just to fine-tune his breathing,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi said. “His action is spot-on and in today's work you could really see his strong point, his suppleness.”
The Deep Impact colt's retirement has already been announced and the Tenno Sho will be his second-last start before his scheduled farewell appearance in the Japan Cup.
Gran Alegria, also by Deep Impact, is also a leading contender with five top-level wins to her name. Trained by Miho-based Kazuo Fujisawa, she's tackling the distance for only her second time. Her first attempt came in the Osaka Hai, where she followed Contrail over the line in fourth place. Gran Alegria, who along with Efforia, will enjoy a lighter weight of only 123lb in the race, returns to the track from a close second in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m, Tokyo) in early June.
Regular rider Christophe Lemaire attributes Gran Alegria's loss in the Yasuda to breathing problems caused by an entrapped epiglottis. She underwent surgery to correct the issue during the summer.
“There'll be no problems with her throat this time,” Lemaire says. “I think she'll be able to give a best performance.”
With the 70-year-old Fujisawa's retirement just around the corner, this will be his last Tenno Sho.
“He's a superstar trainer, I want to win the race for him one more time.” Lemaire said.
The Frenchman, currently the leading jockey in Japan, has ridden the winner for the past three autumn versions of the Tenno Sho, including Fujisawa's Rey de Oro in 2018.
Efforia, a 3-year-old by 2014 Japan Cup champion Epiphaneia, went to the Triple Crown first leg Satsuki Sho on his fourth start and won it to remain unbeaten. He suffered his first loss in the Japanese Derby with a second by a mere nose. He returns straight from the May 30 Derby, but the distance and venue are familiar ground to the colt. He won over 2000m three times in his five-race career, with two wins at Tokyo.
Efforia is to be paired with young star Takeshi Yokoyama, who hails from a racing family and will be joined by both his father and older brother in Sunday's Tenno Sho. The 22-year-old Yokoyama won the Satsuki Sho aboard Efforia in April.
On Wednesday, Yokoyama rode Efforia among a trio of horses over six furlongs on the Miho flat course. The colt displayed excellent acceleration in the final furlong.
“I've ridden him all along in work and in his races.” Yokoyama said. “And I'd say this week's work was his best yet.”
Efforia will compete against older horses for his first time, but Yokoyama says: “I'm not worried about the others. The main thing for me to remember is to not get in his way and he'll be fine.”
Sixteen horses are nominated in the turf event that carries a 150-million-yen first prize. Names most cited as capable of an upset are the highly consistent Sakae Kunieda-trained Curren Bouquetd'or, winner of this year's Tenno Sho Spring World Premiere, and the up-and-coming Potager, taking on his first G1.
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