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It was an elite finish to the last Tenno Sho (Autumn) run at Tokyo on Sunday.
Equinox beat a top field again but who now takes the 2024 Tenno Sho (Autumn) (2000m) at Tokyo on Sunday?
2024 TENNO SHO (AUTUMN) - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Tenno Sho (Autumn) is a Grade 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for three year olds and above at Tokyo racecourse conducted by the Japan Racing Association.
The Tenno Sho (Autumn) is run over 2000m. It was first run in 1937 and was won by Happy Might.
The Tenno Sho (Spring) is run over two miles but the Autumn version is much shorter.
The Tenno Sho refers to the Emperor's Prize. The Spring equivalent is run in April.
Prior to the 2007 races, both Tenno Sho races were just Japanese domestic Grade I's.
The Tenno Sho (Autumn) was worth JPY475,200,000 in 2024.
Tokyo racecourse is a left handed course with the start out of the home straight and a short run to the first turn.
The five year olds have been the ones to follow winning eight times since 2005.
Prior to 1980, a horse winning the Tenno Sho races was not allowed to participate in future editions but the ban was lifted in 1981. Only two horses have won the prize three times – Kitasan Black (2016 Autumn, 2017 Spring and Autumn) and TM Opera O (2000 Spring and Autumn, 2001 Spring).
Maurice used the 2016 Tenno Sho (Autumn) as his lead up to winning the Hong Kong Cup which would be his final career race start.
In a dominant performance, Almond Eye made her seasonal return by thrashing the field in 2019. She did the same thing in 2020 winning first up.
3yo colt Equinox won a famous running in 2022 as he had to run down Panthalassa, who established a lead of about 20 lengths with just 800m to go, and was run down in the last few strides. A year later he won in an astonishing time of 1:55.2.
International jockeys have thrived here including the likes of Christophe Lemaire, Ryan Moore, Mirco Demuro, Christophe Soumillon and Olivier Peslier.
In fact Christophe Lemaire has won five of the last six runnings.
One trainer has made this race his own of late. Kazou Fujisawa has taken this out five times.
Notable winners of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) include Equinox (2022/2023), Efforia (2021), Almond Eye (2019/2020), Rey De Oro (2018), Kitasan Black (2017), Maurice (2016), Lovely Day (2015), Just A Way (2013), Buena Vista (2010), Vodka (2008), Meisho Samson (2007), Daiwa Major (2006), Zenno Rob Roy (2004), Symboli Kris S (2002/2003), TM Opera O (2000), Special Week (1999), Bubble Gum Fellow (1996), Mr C.B. (1984) and Shinzan (1965).
The 2023 Tenno Sho (Autumn) was won by Equinox from Justin Palace from Prognosis.
