The 173rd Tenno Sho Spring: A Battle of Stamina and Strategy at Kyoto
- Archie Brookes
- May 1
- 13 min read
By Archie Brookes (@abracing0 on X)
This Sunday, 3rd May, the eyes of the racing world turn to Kyoto Racecourse for the 173rd running of the Tenno Sho (Spring). Known colloquially as the "Emperor’s Prize", this 3,200-metre marathon is the longest Group 1 flat race on the Japan Racing Association calendar and serves as the ultimate test of a thoroughbred’s endurance, versatility, and psychological fortitude.
A Legacy of Excellence
The Tenno Sho is more than just a race; it is a cultural institution. With roots stretching back to 1905, it was originally designed to identify superior breeding stock. Today, it represents the second leg of the informal Spring Triple Crown for older horses, situated between the 2,000m Osaka Hai and the 2,200m Takarazuka Kinen. Historical titans have cemented their legacies here, and the race remains a pinnacle of achievement, carrying a massive total purse of ¥651,000,000 (roughly $4,088,000/£3,019,000), with the winner taking home ¥300,000,000 (roughly $1,884,000/£1,391,000).
Past Icons
The history of the Tenno Sho (Spring) is defined by horses that transcended mere athleticism to become icons of the Japanese turf. Amongst the record breakers, Kitasan Black stands as a giant, holding the current course and world record for 3,200 metres on turf with a time of 3:12.5 set in 2017. Deep Impact’s 2006 victory is equally legendary, as he shattered the world record at the time with his trademark explosive late run, winning by nearly four lengths in a display of pure dominance.
Winning the Spring Tenno Sho twice is an immense feat of longevity that only a select few have achieved since the "win-and-out" rule was lifted in 1981. Mejiro McQueen was the definitive stayer of the early '90s and the first to win twice in the modern era, followed by the "Invincible Overlord" T.M. Opera O, who dominated the Japanese circuit at the turn of the millennium. In more recent years, Fierement proved himself a master of Kyoto's efficiency, while the gritty Fenomeno famously repelled all challengers to defend his crown.
Other legendary specialists have left an indelible mark on this race. Rice Shower, nicknamed the "Assassin of Records," famously ended Mejiro McQueen’s bid for a hat-trick in 1993. Symboli Rudolf’s 1985 victory cemented his status as the "Emperor" as the first Triple Crown winner to claim the prize. Even the eccentric Gold Ship produced a breathtaking performance in 2015, sweeping the entire field from last to first in a display of immense power.
The Technical Challenge: The Yodo Hill
The Kyoto turf is world-renowned for its topographical complexity, specifically the "Yodo Slope" on the third corner. On the second lap of the race, horses must climb 4.3 metres over a 400-metre span before a sharp descent into the final straight. Jockeys must time their move perfectly; making a move too early on the ascent often leads to exhaustion in the 404-metre home stretch. This segment acts as the ultimate filter for stamina, where the psychological pressure can cause less resolute runners to fold before the final sprint begins.
Contenders: Class vs. Stamina
Croix du Nord - Takashi Saito
Undoubtedly the class horse in the race, Takashi Saito's four-year-old tries the same 3,200m trip his sire (Kitasan Black) holds the world record over when winning the 2017 renewal of this race in 3:12.5.
A winner of six of his nine starts, he was an undefeated two-year-old, with three victories that culminated in a two-length win in the Group 1 Hopeful Stakes, with the likes of Giovanni, Masquerade Ball, and Piko Chan Black in behind. He was a beaten favourite on his three-year-old debut in the Group 1 Satsuki Sho (2000 Guineas) when second behind subsequent Group 1 Arima Kinen winner Museum Mile. Croix du Nord famously got redemption in the Group 1 Tokyo Yushun (Derby) under his regular rider Yuichi Kitamura, when holding off the late challenge of the aforementioned Masquerade Ball. Connections then had a decision to make: would it be Kyoto for the Group 1 Kikuka Sho or would it be Longchamp for the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe? They decided on the latter. His Arc trial came in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d'Orange over 2,000m, where he managed to hold on from the fast-finishing Daryz. Come Arc time, the weather god's were, like always, against the overseas raiders as the heavens opened ten minutes before the race, with the ground officially described as "very soft". The Kitasan Black stall curse also struck, with Croix du Nord drawn in the car park in box seventeen of seventeen. From that position, there wasn't much Yuichi Kitamura could've done except take him to the lead. He broke well and eventually drifted towards the rail, where he held first place until the 400m mark, when he was swallowed up by the eventual 1-2 of Daryz and Minnie Hauk, eventually finishing a well-beaten 14th. In a bold move, Saito decided to run him once more after his expedition to France, in none other than the record-breaking edition of last year's Group 1 Japan Cup. His finishing position of 4th was better than it suggests, as he was the only horse that was up with the fast pace early on who managed to sustain it right the way through, whilst also being put off by the riderless Admire Terra. Calandagan beat Masquerade Ball in a head-bobbing finish in a record time of 2:20.3, with 2024 Derby winner Danon Decile filling 3rd place.
Croix du Nord got the better of Meisho Tabaru in last month's Osaka Hai
Being a son of Kitasan Black, he was always going to improve as he got older, and he showed that in April when he returned over 2,000m in the Group 1 Osaka Hai. He came into the race officially 10kg heavier than he was in the Japan Cup, and produced a scintillating performance, running down course-specialist Meisho Tabaru with a bit in hand. Now, the question is will he or won't he stay the 3,200m trip of the Tenno Sho Spring this Sunday. I personally can't see any reason why he won't. His sire was a dual-winner of the race and his dam, Rising Cross, won the 2,800m Park Hill Stakes for John Best in the UK.
He's up against some more seasoned stayers here like last year's winner Redentor and recent 3,000m Hanshin Daishoten winner Admire Terra, but he's a horse who in my opinion we've not seen the best of yet, and his running style gives him every chance of seeing the trip out. If he stays, he wins.
Admire Terra - Yasuo Tomomichi
A real fan favourite who may have found his bag over staying distances. He famously unseated Yuga Kawada coming out of the stalls in the Japan Cup, but ran on riderless and actually finished first past the post! Earlier in his career, he finished 3rd behind Urban Chic and Redentor in the 2024 renewal of the G1 Kikuka Sho (St Leger), before winning both the 2,600m open-class Osaka-Hamburg Cup and Group 2 2,500m Meguro Kinen. After a four month break, the grey came 4th in the Group 2 Kyoto Daishoten before his riderless run in the Japan Cup. Yasuo Tomomichi's horse was disappointing in the Group 1 2,500m Arima Kinen in December, where he was well positioned but just didn't pick up under Yuga Kawada.
Admire Terra reappeared in the Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten over 3,000m in March. Yutaka Take was back in the saddle and he produced a career-best, travelling smoothly then surging to the front effortlessly to win by three lengths in a new 3,200m track record of 3:02.0. He was very powerful through the line and wasn't stopping, recording a last three-furlong time of 34.1s, giving us no doubts about the extra 200m.
Admire Terra's Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten victory
It'll either be him or Croix du Nord that go off favourite, depending how much support they get on the day. There's a good chance he gets his first Group 1 on Sunday and he'll be bang there at the end.
Redentor - Tetsuya Kimura
Last year's winner returns to defend his title for Tetsuya Kimura and Carrot Farm. He held off a late charge from subsequent Group 2 Prix Foy winner and Arc 5th Byzantine Dream in a heads-up, heads-down finish in last year's renewal. He faces a tougher test in this year's race but could be spot on come race day after a prep run in February.
Redentor's victory in last year's race
Redentor suffered an avulsion fracture of the muscle attachment near the femur in his right hind leg roughly two months after his win. The injury was discovered in late June while the horse was being led to light treadmill work at Northern Farm Tenei, forcing him to miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
His aforementioned comeback in February came in the Group 2 Kyoto Kinen over 2,200m - a trip way too short for him. He only managed 8th but stayed on well in the closing stages, recording the joint-second-fastest final three furlong time of 33.6s. He will have stripped fitter for that run and has had almost three months to prepare for his title defence.
You can see from the comparison photos above that he could still tighten up slightly around his belly but there's plenty of time with the rest of his training during the week and the roughly seven-hour trip to Kyoto from Miho Training Centre.
I put up Redentor a couple of weeks ago at 5.5 and I'm still happy with that price. Croix du Nord was too short to back at 2.25 given his stamina questions and I can see Redentor shortening up before the off. He's one of if not the strongest stayer in the field and he's got a great chance of defending his crown on Sunday.
Shin Emperor - Yoshito Yahagi
I don't think he needs much of an introduction. Susumu Fujita's five-year-old has danced every dance and like Croix du Nord, steps up to the 3,200m trip for the first time. Let's have a look at his pedigree:
His sire, Siyouni, never went beyond 1,600m in twelve starts and none of his siblings raced over anything further than 2,100m. He's sired some top 2,400m horses like 2020 Arc winner Sottsass but most of his best sons and daughters thrived over 1,600m. His dam, the late Starlet's Sister, was by Galileo but raced mainly over 1,600m, though is a sibling to some smart middle-distance performers. Shin Emperor hasn't been in the best form as of late and doesn't look the horse he once was. He's had wind issues and it has been over a year since his last good performance when winning the Group 2 Neom Turf Cup from the front in Saudi Arabia. He was bitterly disappointing in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic a couple of months after that and has never really hit form since. Yoshito Yahagi has been happy with his training this week and he seems to be in good condition, but even if he does stay, I'd be surprised if he's good enough against the top three in this field.
Aqua Vernal - Hirofumi Shii
A model of consistency for owner Katsumi Yoshida, winning four times and placing 2nd seven times from seventeen starts, Aqua Vernal comes into her first Group 1 attempt in top form. After winning the open-class Manyo Stakes over 3,000m in January, she put in a career-best behind the reopposing Admire Terra and Sunrise Soleil in that record-breaking Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten. She was three lengths behind the aforementioned son of Rey de Oro that day and in all honesty, I struggle to see how she'll reverse the form.
We don't have to worry about whether she'll stay or not, but she might just get found out at this level.
Tagano Dude - Toru Miya
Another really consistent horse who outran his massive odds when 4th behind Croix du Nord in the Group 1 Osaka Hai. Like him, this will be his first go over anything further than 2,400m and his pedigree doesn't give you much confidence that he'll fully see out the 3,200m.
His dam and all of her siblings never ran over further than 2,000m, and his sire, Yamakatsu Ace, was best over 2,000m. His connections don't seem too confident about the distance, but they've said that his extensive experience may help him get the trip.
He wasn't stopping in the Osaka Hai, recording the fastest last three furlong time of 34.8s, and his run could probably me marked-up considering he went five wide round the home bend.
Currently projected as roughly a 17.0 shot, he's one that could outrun his odds and fill a place if he gets the trip or if one of the top three fail to fire.
Hohelied - Toshiaki Tajima
If there's one runner in this field that you don't have to worry about staying-wise, it's Hohelied.
Hohelied's Group 2 Stayers Stakes victory In December, stepping up to the marathon trips for the first time, she took out the Group 2 Stayers Stakes over a whopping 3,600m, defeating the likes of Meiner Campana, Wurttemberg, and Vermicelles who all line up again here. The daughter of Rulership could only manage 5th next time out in the 3,400m Group 3 Diamond Stakes, a race won by Stinger Glass, who's now been scratched from this field. She seems to have found her bag over these marathon distances but lacks the class of a few in this field.
Echt - Hideyuki Mori
An absolute warrior of a horse who's been around longer than most. In a career spanning thirty seven starts, he's only twice tried at least 3,000m, both attempts coming in the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Group 3 Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia where he finished 7th and 5th respectively. In his most recent starts, he's been running between 1,800-2,500m and is in great form, finishing 3rd in the Group 2 American Jockey Club Cup over 2,200m at Nakayama in January, outrunning his monster 267.9 odds behind Shohei and Douradores, and most recently outrunning his odds again in the Group 2 Nikkei Sho at the same venue to finish 4th.
Echt's dam was best over sprint trips and his sire, Rulership, was a top-class middle-distance horse, but from what we've seen he got 3,000m fine. Like a few others, he's a highly-likeable, solid horse, but is likely to struggle against the main protagonists on Sunday.
Vermicelles - Keiji Yoshimura
A daughter of Gold Ship who's not got her head in front since December 2024.
She's proven over marathon distances having finished 3rd in last year's 3,400m Group 3 Diamond Stakes behind Redentor, who subsequently went on to win last year's edition of this race. Since then, she's struggled in graded-company, except when running a creditable 3rd behind Deep Monster in the Group 2 Kyoto Daishoten in October of last year. Most recently, she was majorly disappointing in the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap in February, finishing 11th. I thought she had a chance in that contest but she didn't find much when asked and trailed home in last place.
Having still never won a graded contest, it's highly-unlikely she breaks her duck on Sunday and she has lots to prove after her Saudi trip.
Wurttemberg - Hiroshi Miyamoto
By my favourite sire at the moment, Kitasan Black, Wurttemberg shares similar form lines to most of the field. It's only been in his last two starts in the 3,600m Group 2 Stayers Stakes and 3,400m Group 3 Diamond Stakes that he's contested marathon trips. In the former, he was beaten into 6th by the aforementioned Hohelied but turned the tables on that rival when finishing 4th in the latter race in February.
He's a big price and, similar to Vermicelles, I can't see him breaking his Group race duck in just his second attempt at a Group 1 this Sunday.
Sunrise Soleil - Yoshito Yahagi
A massive ask for this son of Kizuna.
He's been out of form since winning the 3-win Karasuma Stakes in May of last year, with no placing better than 6th in five runs subsequently. That 6th place came in the 3,000m Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten behind Admire Terra and Aqua Vernal, but disappointed most recently when well-supported in the open-class Osaka-Hamburg Cup over 2,600m at Hanshin, finishing 11th when sent off 3rd favourite at 8.8. It's worth noting that this will also be his first crack in Group 1 company.
We can expect him to be up with the pace but I'd be more than surprised to see him stay there turning into the straight.
Meiner Campana - Takafumi Aoki
Another who has a ton on his plate.
Meiner Campana produced a career-best when beaten just 3/4 of a length behind Hohelied in the Group 2 Stayers Stakes but took a step back subsequently when beaten into 7th in the Group 3 Diamond Stakes. To his credit, he plugged on in the closing stages but was readily outclassed behind Stinger Glass. It's also worth noting that his trainer has been in awful form this year, training just 1 winner from 102 runners.
Mystery Way - Shinya Kobayashi
This Just A Way gelding was in wicked form prior to his Group 1 Arima Kinen attempt in December. He'd won the open-class Tancho Stakes followed by the Group 2 Copa Republica Argentina Handicap, beating some good horses in the process like Stinger Glass, Struve, Hohelied etc. After finishing last in the end-of-year showpiece at Nakayama, he was mightily disappointing on return in the Group 2 Nikkei Sho in March, finishing 14th of 15 runners. However, it's worth noting that he couldn't hold his usual prominent position early doors and was way back in the field for most of the race.
Mystery Way toughed it out from the front in the Group 2 Copa Republica Argentina in November
We know that he'll have no problem with the trip, having finished 2nd in a 3,000m 3-win allowance last year, and if Hiroki Matsumoto can get him to break well and sit handy, we'll see him to best effect. He's the one that looks slightly overpriced to me at roughly 92.0.
Precious Day - Shigenobu Isaka
I'd be shocked if this colt won to be quite honest.
His only try in graded company was a 7th-place finish in the 2024 Group 2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes won by Croix du Nord. He's been alternating between dirt and turf in allowance company since and most recently finished 4th in his first try over the marathon trip of 3,000m in the 3-win Shorai Stakes at Hanshin. Of course, being a four-year-old means there's still potential for improvement, but this horse has little to no chance on Sunday, and his trainer, Shigenobu Isaka, is yet to train a graded-stakes winner.
Keiai Sandera - Shinya Kobayashi
I have no idea why this horse is actually running. He was last seen finishing last of 11 in a steeplechase at Kokura.
He was quite smart a couple of years ago but hasn't won since September 2024 and realistically has no chance.
Verdict
Like I said earlier in the article, I backed Redentor at 5.5 a couple of weeks ago and expect him to go off shorter come race time. His comeback in the Kyoto Kinen should hopefully have put him spot on for this and he has a good chance at going back-to-back. Croix du Nord has been electric in his work this week and if he stays as well as his dad did, and there's no reason to think he won't, I can't see anything beating him. Admire Terra also holds major claims of bagging his first Group 1 here after his brilliant win in the Hanshin Daishoten last time out. Overall, I'd be surprised if the race went to anything outside of the main three. At the prices, Redentor was the bet at 5.5 with Croix du Nord opening up too short at 2.25 with the stamina question, though if he gets it, he'll win.
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