Japan: Almond Eye's win in Tenno Sho sets turf record

Almond Eye won her eighth Group 1 or Grade 1 race in Sunday’s $2.76 million Tenno Sho at Tokyo Racecourse, a record for wins on turf at the highest level for a Japanese-based runner.

Almond Eye has now won seven Grade 1 races in Japan and the Group 1 Dubai Turf in the United Arab Emirates in March 2019. Six other horses have won seven Grade 1 turf races in Japan – Deep Impact, Gentildonna, Kitasan Black, Symboli Rudolf, T M Opera O, and Vodka.

In the Tenno Sho at 1 1/4 miles, Almond Eye (who paid $3.40 in American pools) closed from a stalking position in a field of 12 under jockey Christophe Lemaire to take the lead with a furlong remaining. A 5-year-old mare, Almond Eye finished a half-length in front of 17-1 Fierement. Chrono Genesis (5-2) finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length.

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Lemaire said there were a few anxious moments in deep stretch on a course with a slight uphill finish.

“She showed a great turn of foot in the straight, but ran out of steam a bit climbing the hill,” he told Japan Racing Association publicity.

“The others were gaining on us, but she didn’t give up. I have to admit to win the eighth (Grade 1) title was a big pressure, but she didn’t let us down. Her performance was awesome.”

Almond Eye, a winner of 10 of 14 starts, had her first start in the Tenno Sho since a second in the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen in June.

A 5-year-old mare by Deep Impact, Almond Eye is owned by Silk Racing Co., Ltd, and trained by Sakae Kunieda. Almond Eye could have her next start in the Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 29, a race she won in 2018 en route to being named Japanese Horse of the Year.