Durezza the Favorite for Tenno Sho Spring Coronation

The feature race in Japan April 28 is the Tenno Sho Spring (G1), a 3,200-meter (approximately two miles) event at Kyoto Racecourse on April 28. "Tenno Sho" means "Emperor's Cup" in Japanese and it is a very prestigious race for all involved in horse racing/breeding in Japan. The likely favorite is Durezza (JPN), a 4-year-old colt by Duramente (JPN), who started four races last year and won all of them, including the Kikuka Sho (G1), over 3,000 meters at Kyoto on Oct. 22, which is the final leg of the Japanese Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. Durezza finished second in Kinko Sho (G2) at Chukyo March 10, which was his seasonal debut. More Than Sacred (AUS) by More Than Ready, the dam of Durezza, was bought privately by Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm when she was in training. Durezza is her fifth foal. More Than Sacred was offered at the Northern Farm Mixed Sale in 2022, when she was in foal to Bricks and Mortar, and bought by Yuesheng Zhang for ¥8,500,000 (US$54,571). Mares sold at Northern Farm Sale have produced some notable winners. For example, Southern Speed (AUS), dam of Cosmo Kuranda (JPN) who won the Yayoi Sho (G2) and finished second in Satsuki Sho (G1) this spring, was bought by Big Red Farm for ¥21,000,000 (US$134,822) at the Northern Farm Sale in 2020 when she was in foal to Al Ain (JPN). The colt who was born the following spring at Big Red Farm is Cosmo Kuranda.