IN late February the Japanese Racing Association took the decision to close the doors of racetracks and betting shops to the public.

Racing in the JRA continues under these circumstances and with no sign of change in the near future. Daily figures regarding coronavirus continue to increase but Japan has, of yet, been spared the sudden surge experienced by so many other countries.

Racing interests turned to Kyoto Racecourse for the immensely popular stamina test that is the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring). Translated to the Emperor’s Cup, the Tenno Sho is a bi-annual race that is confined to older horses and run over the marathon distance of 3,200 metres (two miles). Its autumn counterpart is contested over 2,000 metres.

With €1,300,000 on offer to the winner, 14 runners went to post for the 81st running of the Tenno Sho. Last year’s winner, Fierement, once again lined up in an attempt to retain his crown. He was suitably sent off as the even-money favourite. Consistent top-level performers You Can Smile and Kiseki were believed to be the biggest dangers to the favourite.

Drawn wide in stall 14, Fierement and Christophe Lemaire broke evenly to race in mid-division. Like many of the field, Fierement struggled to settle in the early running behind a sedate pace. From third position, Yutaka Take and Kiseki took the initiative and the lead, increasing the tempo to make it a true test of stamina.

Powered clear

Entering the home straight, 66/1 outsider Stiffelio took it up and powered clear as the field passed the two-furlong marker. However, under an icy calm ride by Lemaire, Fierement loomed large from well off the pace, only becoming animated in the saddle for the last 100 metres.

Lemaire produced his mount to get his nose in front in a head-bobbing finish to defeat the game Stiffelio. Mikki Swallow ran on late to finish a further two and a half lengths behind in third.

Winning jockey, Lemaire, was successful aboard Rey De Oro (2018) and Almond Eye (2019) in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), becoming the first rider in JRA history to win the races on four consecutive occasions.

Absence

Fierement made light of a four-month absence to become the fifth horse to win the Tenno Sho in consecutive years. He was last seen on a racetrack when finishing fourth behind Lys Gracieux in the Arima Kinen.

The five-year-old now puts himself into a select group of sons by Deep Impact to win multiple Grade 1 races. Fierement is out of the Group 1-winning French-bred mare Lune d’Or (Green Tune), a €750,000 purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at Arqana in 2010.

Unraced in his juvenile year and a three-time winner as a three-year-old culminating in classic glory in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger). The Takahisa Tezuka-trained colt as a four-year-old won the 2019 Tenno Sho before making a fruitless trip to France when finishing tailed off in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on unsuitable ground.

Ailes has classic ambitions

UNRACED as a two-year-old, Des Ailes made a comprehensive winning debut in a Hanshin maiden in March, exhibiting an incredible turn-of-foot to win from an unlikely position after breaking poorly. With the subsequent form of that race leaving a lot to be desired, Des Ailes appeared in the nine-furlong Listed Sweet Pea Stakes as still very much an unknown commodity.

The Yasuo Tomomichi-trained filly, despite her racetrack inexperience, dominated the field of 18 runners to finish a decisive length and three quarter winner with Australian Damian Lane doing the steering.

In the silks of Shadai Racehorse Co. Ltd, Des Ailes will next be seen beside Japan’s best three-year-old fillies in the Yushun Himba (Oaks) due to be run on May 24th.

By Deep Impact, a blacktype win makes Des Ailes a highly valuable breeding prospect. She is the first foal out of the dual French classic winner Avenir Certain (Le Havre) making her an almost priceless future broodmare.

The classic heroine also has a May-born yearling filly by Deep Impact. Avenir Certain was purchased privately after her racing career by Teruya Yoshida’s Shadai Farm.