Masquerade Ball Ready To Party In Tenno Sho

[Wandering Eyes]

Group 1 winners lie thicker in the field than the falling leaves on the ground in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), set for Sunday in Kyoto. However, it is G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) runner-up Masquerade Ball (Duramente) who leads in the advance markets as an 8-5 chance against 13 rivals, seven of them Group 1 scorers.

Yet to salute at the highest level, the 2024 Listed Ivy Stakes winner's only blip in six lifetime starts was an unplaced run to his Derby conqueror Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) in the G1 Hopeful Stakes at two. Successful in the G3 Tokinominoru Kinen over 1800 metres in February, the Shadai Race Horse colourbearer ran third to the reopposing Museum Mile (Leontes) in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in April prior to his Derby second.

Trainer Takahisa Tezuka said, “From the Japanese Derby, I'd planned to bring him back in this race. Christophe Lemaire breezed him on Oct. 23 on the woodchip course to get a reading on him. His overall time [84.3 seconds over six furlongs] wasn't that fast, but he was relaxed and ran well. Lemaire understands his quirks now and it was a good workout. He'll be up against older horses, but he'll have the weight advantage and the Tokyo course suits him.”

Concerning for favourite backers, Museum Mile is exiting a victory in the G2 St. Lite Kinen at Nakayama over 2200 metres two starts on from his Classic score. He was sixth in the Japanese Derby and breaks from post nine on Sunday.

Said trainer Daisuke Takayanagi, “Keita Tosaki 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. Compared to the spring, I was thinking he's a bit heavy, but still in the acceptable range. He's now able to handle a lot of work without losing weight.”

Second choice in the markets is last out G1 Takarazuka Kinen hero Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship), who had fellow topliner Justin Palace (Deep Impact) back in third this past June.

Yutaka Take was complementary of his mount and said, “He did a fantastic job in the Takarazuka Kinen. The trainer says everything has gone well since and that he looked good in his final work on Oct. 29. There's no problem with the distance itself, 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.”

Also entering the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on the back of a Group 1 win is Tastiera (Satono Crown), who claimed Hong Kong's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in April. The 2023 Japanese Derby hero also ran second in the 2024 edition of this race and has had several months to recover from his travels. Set to partner with Damian Lane, the Carrot Farm silksbearer leaves from stall five.

Trainer Noriyuki Hori said, “After returning from Hong Kong, we decided to avoid the hot months to get him completely recovered, and start him back with the Tenno Sho (Autumn). I think he'll be able to bring out his ability over the Tokyo 2,000 meters.”

Returning from a lengthy freshening after winning the 1800-metre G3 Epsom Cup in record time in May, Seiun Hades (Silver State) is joined by Shirankedo (Declaration Of War), who won the G3 Niigata Stakes over this trip at the end of August.

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