Emperor's Cup Tests Japanese Stayers

While there's no question there's plenty of talent among the 17 horses lining up for the Tenno Sho Spring (Emperor's Cup, G1) May 2 at Hanshin Racecourse, there remains the issue of who will show up on the given day.

The race is the longest Japan Racing Association grade 1 of the year at 3,200 meters (about two miles) and runs this year at Hanshin while its normal home at Kyoto is undergoing renovations.

Many of the contenders have serious question marks along with their accomplishments so this could be the moment for Curren Bouquetd'or to end a string of frustrating disappointments.

Curren Bouquetd'or, a 5-year-old Deep Impact  mare, has finished second in seven of her 14 career starts, including the 2019 Japan Cup (G1) and 2019 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1), and has yet to win a graded stakes after repeatedly knocking heads with the country's best. She returned from four months rest in the Nikkei Sho (G2) March 27 and, naturally, finished second behind Win Marilyn.

"Coming off a break last time, she didn't run badly in the Nikkei Sho," said Curren Bouquetd'or's trainer, Sakae Kunieda. "But she got covered up in the race and the winner really did it cleverly. She closed well at the finish, but it was a pity she couldn't win."

Jockey Keita Tosaki noted the yawning gap at the top of the Curren Bouquetd'or résumé, saying, "With her just lacking a big win, I hope I can achieve it this time."

The winner of the Nikkei Sho, a cleverly named 4-year-old daughter of Screen Hero , followed in Curren Bouquetd'or's hoofprints with a runner-up finish in the 2020 Yushun Himba but then was unplaced in three intervening starts before the Nikkei Sho.

Win Marilyn's trainer, Takahisa Tezuka, won the last two editions of the Tenno Sho Spring with Fierement and warily eyes his chances for a third win on the trot.

"She was in good condition for her last race, and the jockey did well to get the best out of her from the draw she had," Tezuka said. "She's been at the stable since, and I think she's something close to the condition that she was in this time last year."

The Hanshin Daishoten (G2), at 3,000 meters (1 7/8 miles), is another important prep for the Tenno Sho so this year's five-length winner, Deep Bond, would seem a likely favorite for the big race. That outcome was an outlier, though, as the 4-year-old Kizuna  colt has burned his supporters' money more often than rewarded them, with just three wins and six unplaced finishes from 11 starts.

That was before and this is now, said Deep Bond's trainer Ryuji Okubo.

"He's always been a big-striding horse but in some of his previous races he's looked a bit slow. Now though, he's looking a lot faster and lighter, and even in the ground last time, he was impressive … This has been his target race, so I hope he runs well," Okubo said.

Another needing to show his true colors is Aristoteles. The 4-year-old son of Epiphaneia just missed defeating Contrail in last year's Kikuka Sho or (Japanese St. Leger, G1) and that made him the heavy favorite in the Hanshin Daishoten, where he finished seventh.

"He raced a little unkindly last time," said assistant trainer Kenichi Shono, "and what with the ground, he didn't see things out until the end. He's had a break at the farm and everything's been good on his return to the stable."

Leading rider Christophe Lemaire has the mount.

World Premiere and You Can Smile complete the lineup.