Croix du Nord, winner of the 2025 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1T), looms as a favorite in the May 3 Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1T) at Kyoto Racecourse, but will have to show again that he can handle a marathon distance.
The race, at 3,200 meters (about 2 miles), is the longest of Japan's grade 1s and will be new ground for Croix du Nord, who has never ventured beyond 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles). At that trip, the 4-year-old son of Kitasan Black is 1-for-3. Going shorter, he has five wins from six starts.
As is often the case, though, statistics are deceiving. The two defeats at 2,400 miles came in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), a race run over soft turf that has been an albatross for Japan for decades, and the Japan Cup (G1T), in which he ran into the buzz saw of Calandagan and Masquerade Ball.
He won the 2,400-meter Derby, defeating the highly regarded Masquerade Ball. He also has pedigree on his side. His sire, Kitasan Black, a grandson of Sunday Silence, won the 2016 and 2017 Tenno Sho (Spring).
Trainer Takashi Saito didn't seem concerned about distance in his prerace comments but had other worries.
"Recently, he takes the bit in his teeth until the first turn, but this time there's the downward hill turning out of the backstretch. I'm a bit concerned if he'll stay in balance or not," Saito said of Croix du Nord.
With lingering question marks about horses other than Croix du Nord, Admire Terra and Redentor get some antepost support with promising distance records.
Admire Terra, a 5-year-old son of Rey de Oro, took a big step forward in winning the Hanshin Daishoten (G2T) March 22, going 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles). That was just his second time at the distance following a third-place finish in the 2024 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1T) at 3,000 meters.
The victory in the Hanshin Daishoten was particularly encouraging since three winners of that race have progressed to victory in the Tenno Sho (Spring) within the past 10 years.
"I'd wanted to race him here last year," trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said. "But I didn't think he was strong enough yet. He's had a year to grow and I think he's ready."
Redentor, a 5-year-old by Rulership, won last year's Tenno Sho (Spring) after finishing second in the 2024 Kikuka Sho. He was then sidelined by an injury and finished eighth in his return in February.
"A back-to-back win of this race is on the line, and eyes will be on him," trainer Tetsuya Kimura said. "But my job is to monitor the horses entrusted to me, so I hadn't really thought about the repeat of the race. With it being a grade 1, all of the horses are going to be amazing. So I have to keep my eye on my horse even more."
The race starts midway down the backstretch, around the outer turf loop, and past the finish line for the first time before another complete circuit of that course. There is a 4-meter incline in little more than 100 meters shortly after the start, then a drop through the turn leading to the stretch. Unlike some other major Japanese courses, the stretch is run on level ground.
"Tenno Sho" translates to "Emperor's Prize," and the spring and fall events are among Japan's most prestigious trophies.
