The historic and prestigious Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1T) takes on added meaning Nov. 1 at Tokyo Racecourse as last year's winner, Masquerade Ball, could use the race as a prep for November's Japan Cup (G1T) and a rematch with Calandagan, who beat him by a head a year ago.
First things first, though. Masquerade Ball's immediate challenge is to get the best of a field that also includes multiple grade 1 winners Croix du Nord, Danon Decile, and Regaleira.
First run in 1905, the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) Tenno Sho (Autumn) is the first of three races informally linked as a late-year "triple crown" for all ages, followed by the Nov. 29 Japan Cup and the Dec. 27 Arima Kinen (G1T).
Masquerade Ball, a 4-year-old son of Duramente, scored his only grade 1 win in last year's edition of this race but has been consistently in the mix in top company. He finished second last year in both the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1T) and Japan Cup. In the latter, he just missed to Calandagan, the first foreign winner in 20 years and then No. 1 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings.
He followed that with yet another second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) in Hong Kong in April, behind only Romantic Warrior, but was seventh in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse in July and has not raced since.
Trainer Takahisa Tezuka attributed the Ascot flop to unfamiliar surroundings and unsuitable going but said Masquerade Ball is better now.
"Tokyo course is the best venue for him and I think he enjoys the course," Tezuka said. "He won this race last year and since he's more powerful now, I think he can do well this year, too."
"Last year's field was certainly grade 1 level, but I think this year the field is even stronger. This horse's biggest weapon is his late kick. It's among the best of any horse currently racing in Japan. I'm hoping the race will unfold in such a way as to play to his strengths."
The course also seemed to play to Calandagan's strengths last November and he's headed back to try for a repeat in the Japan Cup.
Croix du Nord, by Kitasan Black, won the 2025 Tokyo Yushun and a prep race in France before the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). But hopes he could end Japan's decades-long record of futility in the Arc itself disappeared as he finished 14th.
Back home, he won this year's Osaka Hai (G1T) and the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1T), then finished second in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1T). Both the Arc and the Takarazuka Kinen were contested on soft or yielding turf.
"I'd wanted him to sweep the spring triple crown for older horses but, unfortunately, he didn't," said trainer Takashi Saito, lamented the defeat by just a neck in the Takarazuka Kinen. "Nevertheless, his performances were solid in all his races."
Danon Decile, a 5-year-old by Epiphaneia, won the 2024 Tokyo Yushun and the 2025 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) but comes to the Tenno Sho after four straight third-place finishes, including the Japan Cup and the Takarazuka Kinen.
Regaleira, the only female in the Tenno Sho field, is a 5-year-old daughter of Suave Richard. She has three top-level wins that include the 2024 Arima Kinen and Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1T) last November.
The race is run in an unusual configuration, starting from a stubby chute to the right of the grandstand. On a clear day, Mount Fuji is visible beyond the horses seeking position in the short sprint to the first turn. That gives significant advantage to those with an inside draw. Only one horse drawn outside gate 8 has won the race in the past decade and that was super filly Almond Eye, who might have won starting from the parade ring.
Masquerade Ball and jockey Christophe Lemaire got gate 7 for his repeat try. Croix du Nord hit the jackpot with gate 1 and Regaleira got gate 3. Danon Decile drew the shortest of short straws—outside in gate 17.
