classic hero Holder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) secured the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) 3200m in a wire-to-wire fashion in Hanshin on Sunday. The first winner to complete the race since Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) in 2016, the defending champion has been followed at home by several group winners Deep link (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who also finished second in 2021. The progressive winner of the G3 Diamond S. To Royal (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) ran third.

Second choice in betting at 7-2 behind tied choice Deep Bond who also won the G2 Prix Foy when sent overseas for a crack at the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last season, Hiroshi Yamada’s standard-bearer was immediately bumped into the helm of affairs by Kazuo Yokoyama. Crescendo Love (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) kept a close eye on the titleholder, while Tagano Diamante (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was third and Deep Bond was fourth alongside TO Royal.

Left to his own devices with an open lead, the defending champion completed the first half mile in: 48.50 and Yokoyama let off the gas near the halfway mark to give his colt a pause. Meanwhile, the approaching horses had to deal with the riderless Silver Sonic (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), who had dropped his jockey at the break and climbed the rail to take second place in the wake of the defending champion. The leader dropped the hammer on his rivals several stadiums later and covered 2400 meters in 2:27.90.

Able to maintain his pace from there, the 4-year-old had built up too much cushion and crossed the line seven lengths in favor of Deep Bond, who took over from a leg-weary TO Royal in the final 100 yards . , with a length separating them on the line. The title holder covered his last half mile in :48.30, with all but the last furlong covered in less than :12 seconds per furlong.

It was a particularly poignant first Group 1 win for Yokoyama, who became the third generation in his family to win the Tenno Sho (Spring). Yokoyama’s grandfather, Tomio, was aboard Mejiro Musashi (Jpn) (Wallaby {Fr}) in 1971, while his father Norihiro scored a hat-trick in the race-Sakura Laurel (Jpn) (Rainbow Quest) in 1995, Ingrandire (Jpn) (White Muzzle {GB}) in 2004 and Gold Ship (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) in 2015.

“I felt he was in good shape when I rode him in the post parade, so I just believed in him and focused on riding him in [a] good pace,” Yokoyama said. “We were able to slow the pace down the backstretch to keep his stamina going and I wasn’t worried about the horses behind us on the backstretch. I’m glad I was able to win this race with Titleholder, rather than being able to win my first Group 1 title. I think he will get stronger and stronger in the future.

First in the G2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen in March 2021, the bay was second to eventual Japanese Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) before a pair of unplaced races in May and September. In October 2021, he earned the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), his first try beyond 2400 meters and finished fifth, again at Eforia on December 26. G1 Arima Kinen. The 4-year-old colt prepared for the Tenno Sho with a victory in the 2500 meters G2 Nikkei Sho on March 26.

Genealogical notes

Part of a quartet of black-type winners for 3-year-old Japanese champion Colt and two-time classic scorer Duramente, the defending champion is his most decorated runner to date. Stars On Earth (Jpn) is the other Group 1 winner for her sire, having won G1 Oka Sho, while Arrivo (Jpn) won G3 Kokura Daishoten and finished third in G1 Osaka Hai. A grandson of Derby hero G1 Motivator, the title holder is one of 10 black type winners – five groups – for the stallion as a broodmare sire and only Group 1 winner.

Picked up by LEX for just 30,000 gns at agent Catridge Farm Stud’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2009, Mowen had her best three-and-four run, winning as little as 1200 meters and up to 2600 meters for five wins out of 22 starts on the JRA circuit. Mowen’s first colt, winner Melody Lane (Jpn) (Orfevre{Jpn}), finished fifth in the 2019 Kikuka Sho and finished ninth in the title holder on Sunday. She produced a dead foal in 2017 before giving birth to the Tenno Sho winner. She has not had a live foal since Titleholder in 2018, although she has visited successive years Gold Ship (Jpn), Victoire Pisa (Jpn) and Duramente. A half-sister to Listed winner Zato (Ire) (Zafonic) and Black Type winner Krispy Knight (GB) (Kris {GB}), Mowen was covered by Kizuna (Jpn) last spring, but once again a once failed to add to its offspring.

Further down the family is two-time roster winner and G1 Lockinge S. third Center Stalls (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}) and classic winner On The House (Fr) (Be My Guest). This 1979 filly won the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Sussex S., and second and third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, respectively.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
TENNO SHO (SPRING)-G1¥385,400,000, Hanshin, 5-1, 4yrs/up, 3200mT, 3:16.20, gd.
1-HOLDER (JPN), 128, c, 4, Duration (Jpn)
1st dam: Mowen (GB), by Motivator (GB)
2nd jump-off: Top Table (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
3rd Dam: Lora’s Guest (Ire), by Be My Guest
(¥20,000,000 Wlg ’18 JRHAJUL). O-Hiroshi Yamada; B- Okada
Haras (Jpn); T-Toru Kurita; J-Kazuo Yokoyama. ¥203,780,000.
Lifetime record: 11-5-2-0. Rating Werk Nick: A+++. *Triple
More*. Click for it eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.
2–Deep link (Jpn)128, h, 5, Kizuna (Jpn)–Zéphyranthes (Jpn),
by King Halo (Jpn). (¥17,820,000 Ylg ’18 JBBAJUL). Oh Shinji
Maeda; B-Murata Farm (Jpn); ¥81,080,000.
3–To Royal (Jpn)128, c, 4, Leontes (Jpn)–Meisho Ohi (Jpn), by
Manhattan Cafe (Japan). 1ST GROUP 1 TYPE BLACK. O Tomoya
Ozassa; B-Mishima Bokujo (Japan); ¥50,540,000.
Margins: 7, 1, 3HF. Odds: 3.90, 1.10, 8.90.
Also raced: Heat on Beat (Jpn), Iron Barows (Jpn), Meiner Fanrong (Jpn), Robertson Quay (Jpn), Valcos (Jpn), Melody Lane (Jpn), Tosen Cambina (Jpn), Machaon d’Or (Jpn), Divine Force (Jpn), You Can Smile (Jpn), Crescendo Love (Jpn), Hayayakko (Jpn), Heart’s Histoire (Jpn), Tagano Diamante (Jpn). DNF: Silver Sonic (Jpn). Click for it JRA Graphics and Video or the free Equineline.com catalog style pedigree.