Japan: Cheval Grand escapes shadow of rival in Tenno Sho
In the last two years, Cheval Grand has finished third and second in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho at two miles at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan, losing both times to Kitasan Black. Sunday, Cheval Grand will be favored to win the $2.66 million Tenno Sho, a race that conveniently will not include his rival, who is now at stud.
The two met as recently as December, when Kitasan Black and Cheval Grand were first and third in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen, the final big race in Japan each year.
This year, Cheval Grand has had one start, finishing 13th in the Grade 1 Osaka Hai at 1 1/4 miles on turf, a distance that may be shorter than his ideal trip, according to jockey Hugh Bowman. He considers 1 1/2 to around two miles best suited to the 6-year-old Japanese-bred.
“He’s not a horse to pick up so quickly, but he has good footwork and stamina to go with it,” Bowman told Japan Racing Association publicity.
“It’s a long-distance race that takes a long time, too, so the key is to bring both the mental and physical aspects of the horse together during the race.”
Bowman rode Cheval Grand to his most recent win, in the Grade 1 Japan Cup at 1 1/2 miles last November. Recently, Bowman, based in Australia, received a short-term license to ride in Japan through late May. Bowman is best known as the regular rider of the star Australian mare Winx.
Sunday’s Tenno Sho drew a field of 17, including the stakes winners Rainbow Line, Clincher, and Ganko.
Rainbow Line and Clincher were first and third in the Grade 2 Hanshin Daishoten at 1 7/8 miles on turf at Hanshin Racecourse on March 18. Clincher won his preceding start in the Group 2 Kyoto Kinen at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Feb. 11 in his first start of 2018. Last fall, Clincher was second in the Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles on turf.
Ganko won the Group 2 Nikkei Sho at 1 9/16 miles on turf at Nakayama Racecourse on March 24, his third win in his last four starts. Ganko won an allowance race at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Kyoto on Feb. 11.