The G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) - the “Emperor’s Prize” - is a high point of the Japanese racing season and Sunday’s (27 October) edition at Tokyo Racecourse is no exception.
A field of 15 is set to contest one of Japan's most coveted and prestigious races, which has attracted a string of top-level champions, including 2022 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2400m) winner Do Deuce and 2023's Triple Tiara recipient Liberty Island.
The Tenno Sho Autumn also features clash between the Japan Racing Association's leading jockeys – Christophe Lemaire and Yuga Kawada.
The latter is in second place, separated from the Frenchman by 30 wins. Last Saturday (19 October), Kawada went flying early in the day when his mount crashed just past the finish line and, though the horse was unhurt, Kawada hit his head pretty badly.
He was forced to sit out the G1 Kikuka Sho (3000m) the next day but now he's back and looking to partner Liberty Island, a filly he's been with from the very start - eight races ago (six of them Group 1s), and never a finish out of the money. The Tenno Sho Autumn will be only her second race this year after she was rested following her return from Dubai and a third in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m).
Yuya Katayama, assistant to trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, breezed the Duramente filly over the Ritto woodchips early Wednesday (23 October) morning for a time of 1m 25.5s over 1200m, a final 200m in 11.3s.
"The ground was bad but it was fine for her final adjustment. I let her move as she pleased and she extended nicely over the final furlong. She's better than she was last week," he said.
Last week, Kawada rode Liberty Island for the same distance with a time of 1m 20.2s with a final 200m in 10.8s. She has filled out and is up 30kg from her weight in the G1 Japan Cup (2400m), where she finished second four lengths behind super horse Equinox, who retired after the Japan Cup with six Group 1 victories to his name.
Lemaire is gunning not only for his third Group 1 win in as many weeks, but also, incredibly, for his second hat-trick and sixth Tenno Sho Autumn win across the last seven years.
Lemaire's partner, four-year-old colt Lebensstil , has yet to win a Group 1 and the Tenno Sho Autumn will be his first big test in Japan.
After returning from the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), Lebensstil started the year late in May with a poor showing in the G3 Niigata Daishoten (2000m), but found the winner's circle in the G3 Epsom Cup (1800m) at Tokyo with new partner Lemaire. He followed that up with a win of the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers (2200m) at Nakayama last month, again with Lemaire in the saddle.
On Wednesday, at the eastern Miho training centre, Lemaire rode Lebensstil for the second week in a row, covering 1200m on the flat with a training partner and a time of 1m 17.5s.
"The jockey rode last week, but said the horse still needed more, so I had him ride again this week," trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka said.
"He (Lebensstil) is better and his responses are good now. He's ready."
Lemaire said: "He hasn't won a Group 1 yet, and going in to this race in the position of a challenger is perfect. I want to challenge Do Deuce and Liberty Island. Lebensstil is in good shape and I think he'll be able to give it his best."
The Tanaka-Lemaire pairing has proven a winner. The last four times they've gotten together for a graded-stakes bid, they've won every time.
