It was third time lucky when Gold Ship made up for two previous losses in the 151st running of the Tenno Sho Spring at Kyoto on Sunday.
Ridden by Norihiro YUokoyama for trainer Naosuke Sugai, Gold Ship put it all together to atone for his defeats as an odds-on favourite behind Fenomeno two years ago when fifth and another loss behind when seventh that that same horse last year.
He was then ridden from the rear by Yokoyama after a customary slow start before he moved up stylishly down the back straight to sit just off the leaders.
He got to the leader Curren Mirotic inside the final furlong and had plenty left as Fame Game surged late to grab second from the tiring pacemaker.“I just concentrated on following the pace and was careful not to turn him off,”Yokoyama said.
"In the straight he really showed his stamina and perseverance. He's often said to be unsuited to Kyoto but I think it's just that he needs a skilled rider to guide him."Gold Ship has now won six G1 titles during his career and is racing better than ever, having claimed a third consecutive victory in the Hanshin Daishoten in March.
His next target is to become the first horse in JRA history to claim three consecutive G1 victories in the coming Takarazuka Kinen in June.Naosuke Sugai reached a milestone of 10 JRA G1 victories with the win while jockey Yokoyama won his 24th G1 title.
Race favourite Kizuna sat well behind and trailed in last after following the winner towards the front group along the backstretch.
