Efforia Earns Landmark Win in Tenno Sho Autumn

In what would become the battle of the favorites, Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) proved best on the day, winning Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho Autumn at Tokyo. With the victory in the 2000-meter test, the colt became the first 3-year-old to win the race since Symboli Kris S won the event in 2002. Sent off as the third betting choice, Efforia settled in a comfortable sixth early as longshot Kaiser Minoru (Jpn) led the way while second choice Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and an overly-eager Tosu Surya (Jpn) (Lohengrin) were in close pursuit. Still coasting in behind horses as Gran Alegria collared the stubborn Kaiser Minoru and gradually inched ahead in early stretch, the third choice closed with purpose down the center of the course, and despite favored Contrail (Jpn)'s (Deep Impact {Jpn}) best effort to the extreme outside late, it was the sophomore who held a length advantage over 2020 Triple Crown hero Contrail with champion last season's champion sprinter/miler Gran Alegria a neck back in third.

“We were able to race in an ideal position and I didn't insist on the inner course as I knew that he can handle it even if we had to turn a little wider. While the COVID-19 crisis is still lingering, the number of spectators is gradually increasing and I am grateful that we were able to win the race in front of many fans,” commented Takeshi Yokoyama.

Winner of this season's G3 Kyodo News Hai over 1,800 meters in February, the bay returned to annex his fourth consecutive score in the 2,000-meter G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) in April. In his most recent start, he faced loss for the first time, finishing second in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in May.

“I cried with joy for the first time in my life, as I was very disappointed following the result of the Derby [last time], admitted Yokoyama. “He's a talented and smart horse, so I decided to believe in his ability and ride him without thinking too much.”

Out of the Heart's Cry (Jpn) mare Katies Heart (Jpn), the colt is trained by Yuichi Shikato, who was capturing his third JRA Group 1 title of the season. With the victory in Sunday's Tenno Sho (Autumn), Takeshi Yokoyama became the third generation horseman to win the race, his grandfather and former jockey Tomio, who won the title in 1969 and his father and active jockey Norihiro, who accomplished the feat in 2009.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
TENNO SHO AUTUMN-G1, ¥290,800,000, Tokyo, 10-31, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:57.90, fm.
1–EFFORIA (JPN), 123, c, 3, Epiphaneia (Jpn)
1st Dam: Katies Heart (Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Katies First, by Kris (GB)
3rd Dam: Katies (Ire), by Nonoalco
O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Yuichi Shikato; J-Takeshi
Yokoyama; ¥153,360,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-1-0. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*
2–Contrail (Jpn), 128, c, 4, Deep Impact(Jpn)–Rhodochrosite, by
Unbridled's Song. O-Shinji Maeda; B-North Hills; ¥60,960,000.
3–Gran Alegria (Jpn), 123, m, 5, by Deep Impact (Jpn)–Tapitsfly,
by Tapit. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥38,480,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 1 3/4; Odds: 2.40, 1.50, 1.80.
Also Ran: Sanrei Pocket (Jpn), Hishi Iguazu (Jpn), Potager (Jpn), Persian Knight (Jpn), Last Draft (Jpn), You Can Smile (Jpn), Muito Obrigado (Jpn), World Premiere (Jpn), Curren Bouquetd'or (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), Kaiser Minoru (Jpn), Tosen Surya (Jpn), Cadenas (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

 

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Haras d’Etreham Announces 2022 Service Fees

Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the sire of a pair of stakes horses from his eight winners to date, will stand the 2022 breeding season for a fee of €30,000, officials at Haras d'Etreham announced Saturday.

The best son of the in-demand Wootton Bassett, Almanzor is already the sire of winners in Ireland, England, the USA and France, where his three first-crop winners include the filly Queen Trezy (Fr), a three-length maiden winner at Lyon-Parilly Sept. 8 and a latest runner-up in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville who has the G1 Prix de Diane as a long-term objective; and Saving Grace (Fr), not worse than second in her three runs to date and most recently second in the Listed Prix Isonomy at Deauville Oct. 20. Abbado (GB) has won two in a row for Sir Mark Prescott and Cheveley Park Stud and is likely to be aimed for a Derby trial next spring, while Unanimous Consent (GB) was a very impressive maiden winner on debut for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables last month. The John & Thady Gosden-trained Filistine (Ire) became his sire's latest winner when taking out a novice race over seven furlongs at Newmarket Oct. 29.

City Light (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is represented by his first crop of foals in 2021, some of which are headed to the upcoming breeding stock sales, and he covered a book of 119 mares this past breeding season. His service fee holds steady at €7,000.

Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) was well received in his first year at stud in 2021 and remains at €30,000 fo 2022 after covering a full book this year, while Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) will stand for €25,000 after being fully booked for his inaugural season.

“I would like to take advantage of this announcement of our stallion fees to thank once again all breeders, both new and loyal clients, for their support in 2021,” said Haras d'Etreham's Executive Director Nicolas de Chambure. “This is also an opportunity to confirm that our stallions will once again be limited to 140 mares for the season. In a polarized market where the risk of overproduction is real, this choice seems both obvious and necessary. The rarity factor is a creator of value and in this way, we aim to guarantee the enhancement of returns on investments for breeders who support us and our stallions.”

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Blond Me Heads Al Shahania Dispersal

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani's Al Shahania Stud will offer 13 mares and foals for sale in a partial dispersal of stock at Tattersalls' December Sale. The group includes the GI EP Taylor S. winner Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), who is in foal to Siyouni (Fr).

Another of the eight mares catalogued is the GI Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast). The 11-year-old mare is carrying a foal by Sea The Moon (Ger).

Among the five foals to be offered is an Invincible Spirit (Ire) colt out of another G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victrix, Teppal (Ire) (Camacho {GB}), while colts by Kingman (GB) and Siyouni (Fr) also form part of the quintet. 

“Having carefully assembled an elite broodmare band over the past decade His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani has decided to have a select partial dispersal,” said Al Shahania Stud's racing manager Bertrand Le Metayer.

“The five foals are outstanding colts and fillies out of top-class young mares and the team of eight broodmares, all in foal to good early covers, represent a rare opportunity for international breeders to access some of the best families in the Stud Book. The Tattersalls December Sale is the premier sale of its type in Europe and the perfect showcase for mares and foals of such quality.”

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Classic Winners Collide In Tenno Sho

By Alan Carasso

With the possible exceptions of Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), currently training in America towards the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and the G1 Japan Cup-bound Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), this year's G1 Tokyo Yushun hero, Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo has attracted the creme of the crop in Japan, including Classic winners from each of the last three seasons.

Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) commences a two-race farewell tour back where he celebrated one of his finest hours in the 2020 Tokyo Yushun. The son of US-bred Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song) successfully completed his Triple Crown bid in last year's G1 Kikuka Sho–if only just–then was just not quite good enough in the Japan Cup, finishing a close second to former Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Contrail has just the one start this season, where he squared off with a handful of Sunday's rivals in the G1 Osaka Hai in early April. Worse than midfield, he kept on fairly in the straight to be third to then-unbeaten Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), but would have been inconvenienced by a rain-affected course.

“I had wanted to scratch,” admitted trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Once declared, horses may not be scratched after accepting. “He came out of the race poorly as well. I think he's back to his best. This week, he had a light workout just to fine-tune his breathing. His movement was excellent and the work brought out his suppleness. He's bigger than he was in the spring and I think the way he moves has improved as well.”

All things equal, Contrail will make his final career appearance in the Japan Cup Nov. 28.

The easy surface can also be held responsible for the performance of Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Osaka Hai, as she was unable to reproduce her typically blinding turn of foot and settled for fourth. The daughter of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf victress Tapitsfly (Tapit), who scooped the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas over 1600 metres in 2019, makes her first appearance since a troubled runner-up effort to Danon Kingly (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 1600-metre G1 Yasuda Kinen in June. Connections are hoping that quicker underfoot conditions will help her see out Sunday's trip.

“I've had Tenno Sho (Autumn) winners before and they all had good stamina,” said trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, who indicated that the mare had undergone a minor throat operation over the summer. “This is the first strong miler I'm fielding in the race. She has speed, but I'd like to see if she has the speed to conquer the Tokyo 2000 metres.”

Gran Alegria is the final Tenno Sho starter for her trainer, who turned 70 last month and is on the brink of retirement.

The Fujisawa-trained Symboli Kris S (Kris S.) was the last 3-year-old to defeat his elders in this event back in 2002, and G1 Satsuki Sho winner Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) will try to snap that streak this year. The Carrot Farm colourbearer was running his record to four-from-four in the Guineas, where he had recent Kikuka Sho victor Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) three lengths adrift in second. He weaved his way through traffic when last seen in the Derby at this venue May 30 and came to win the race, only to drop a heartbreaking decision to the aforementioned Shahryar.

Fringe players include Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), winner of two straight at group level, but first-up since February; the progressive Potager (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), never outside the top three in 11 career starts; and the hard-trying, but camera-shy Persian Knight (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}).

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