Top 3-Year-Olds Take on Older Rivals in Tenno Sho

While many of Japan's best are at Del Mar, some good ones remained at home to contest the Nov. 2 Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse—a race that has come to test 3-year-olds against older horses for the first time. The race also provides a shorter alternative to contenders from the first two legs of the Triple Crown who swerved the almost 2 miles of the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) a week earlier. The positioning of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) just four weeks before the Japan Cup (G1) is a further strong consideration for owners and trainers. Top contenders from this year's 3-year-old crop for the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) test are Museum Mile (JPN) and Masquerade Ball (JPN). Museum Mile, a Leontes (JPN) colt, won the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) at 2,000 meters in April but then was sixth in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) June 1 when asked to go 2,400 meters (1 1/2 miles). He returned in September to win the Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen (G2). "Keita Tosaki (jockey) was cool-headed and had the horse running very rhythmically in the St. Lite Kinen last out and he gave a strong performance in the final stage and won, said Museum Mile's trainer, Daisuke Takayanagi. "The Derby distance was long for him and the race didn't flow well, but I do think the Tokyo 2,000 meters suits him," Takayanagi added. Masquerade Ball, by Duramente (JPN), finished third in the Satsuki Sho and has been away from the races since finishing second behind Croix du Nord (JPN) in the Tokyo Yushun. Despite the break, trainer Takahisa Tezuka said his hopes are high. "He is moving better in morning work now than he used to and is more relaxed," Tezuka said of Masquerade Ball. "There is no big change in him physically... He'll be competing this time against older horses but I think the distance suits him. With the (2-kilo) difference in the assigned weight, and if he can access what he's got, I'm hopeful." Facing them in the field of 15 are such older rivals as Tastiera (JPN), last year's runner-up and 2023 Tokyo Yushun winner, and Meisho Tabaru (JPN), winner of the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) in his last start after finishing fifth in the Dubai Turf (G1T) in April. Also back are 2023 runner-up Justin Palace (JPN) and 2024 third, Ho O Biscuits (JPN). Meisho Tabaru's jockey, Yutaka Take, said he's pondering tactics for his mount. "There's no problem with the distance itself," the riding legend said. "But it's Tokyo. It's the Tenno Sho. And looking at how he has raced before and what kind of speed he has, I'd have to say it's a high hurdle. I've never seen a horse go wire to wire in this race. That said, I expect him to clear that hurdle and I'm also not decided whether to lead or not." The race starts from a stubby chute on the Mount Fuji end of the Tokyo Racecourse grandstand, putting a premium on inside gates. Masquerade Ball starts from the 7 gate with Christophe Lemaire up. Museum Mile drew gate 9 and Cristian Demuro is booked to ride.