Almond Eye Returns to Action in Tenno Sho Autumn

 Almond Eye returns to action Nov. 1 at Tokyo Racecourse in the Tenno Sho (Autumn, G1), one of seven grade 1 winners in the race.

Almond Eye, a 5-year-old daughter of Lord Kanaloa, has seven top-level victories of her own, including last year's edition of this event. Her schedule was disrupted this year by the cancellation of the Dubai World Cup program, in which she was slated to defend her title in the Dubai Turf (G1).

She returned to Japan to win the Victoria Mile (G1) at Tokyo May 17, then finished second after a bad start in the Yasuda Kinen (G1) to Gran Alegria on the same course June 7. She then went back into mothballs at Northern Farm Tenei in Fukushima and returned to training Oct. 2.

Japan's leading jockey, Christophe Lemaire, who has ridden all but one of the mare's 13 starts, will be back aboard.

"I haven't seen any change in her due to age," trainer Sakae Kunieda said after Almond Eye drew barrier 9 in a field of 12. "I do feel that she is more laid-back about things now, and that is reflected in her condition a bit as well.

"In the Yasuda Kinen, the competition was strong, and though she lost, I think she really gave it her best. She's had a lot of time off, but she has before and has always done well. She has come along fine so far, and I would like to see her win her eighth grade 1."

As befits a race honoring the emperor, the rest of the field also bristles with top-shelf talent.

Fierement is a two-time winner of the Tenno Sho (Spring, G1). Chrono Genesis returns from an impressive victory in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse June 28. Danon Premium was second in the 2019 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and third in the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Randwick in Australia in April but hasn't won at the top level since the Asahi Hai Futurity (G1) in December 2017.

Fierement, a lightly raced 5-year-old by Deep Impact, has missed a top-three finish only twice in 10 starts—one of those being a 12th-place showing in the 2019 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp. He was scratched from a planned start Sept. 27 and consequently enters off a six-month layoff.

"He ran a fever the day before his final fast work, so not wanting him to overdo it, I gave him time off and changed my sights to here," trainer Takahisa Tezuka said. "I don't think bringing him up to peak again has had any ill effect, and he's leaner now than he was before his last start."

Chrono Genesis, a 4-year-old Bago filly, also comes off a layoff, idle since the Hanshin victory. She scored her first grade 1 win in the 2019 Shuka Sho (G1), the final leg of the Japanese filly Triple Crown.

"I think her performance in the Takarazuka Kinen was straightforward and strong," said jockey Yuichi Kitamura. "Compared to last year, I now see her improving with each race."

Others with grade/group 1 wins are Kiseki, much more frequently seen finishing second or third than winning top-level races; Win Bright, victorious in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) in December at Sha Tin Racecourse; and Blast Onepiece.

The race is contested left-handed at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), with a tricky start from the short chute to the right of the grandstand that almost immediately opens to a turn. On a clear day, Mount Fuji is visible in the background behind the starting gate.

Tokyo Racecourse will admit only 1,047 fans for the Tenno Sho due to COVID-19 restrictions. That number will jump Nov. 7, when 4,384 seats will be made available for advance purchase by lottery as Japan slowly eases safeguards.