Japan: Danon Decile takes wide route to Tenno Sho triumph

Danon Decile was wide throughout Sunday’s Grade1 autumn running of the Tenno Sho at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan, and the extra ground was the right place to be.

Danon Decile ($31.40) avoided the trouble that cost 2-5 Croix du Nord and 3-1 Masquerade Ball chances to win the $3.65 million race at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Danon Decile, ridden by Keita Tosahi for trainer Shogu Yasuda, finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of 48-1 Nebra Dish. Tosahi said an uninterrupted trip was vital for Danon Decile.

“The most important factor was to keep him in good rhythm, which he did,” Tosahi told Japan Racing Association publicists. “He responded a bit earlier than I hoped, but he stayed on to the wire.”

Regaleira, the only mare in the field of 16, was third at 3 1/4 lengths at 24-1. Regaleira was the champion older filly or mare in 2025 in Japan.

Croix du Nord, a four-time Group 1 winner, and Masquerade Ball, who won the 2025 autumn running of the Tenno Sho, raced closer to the inside than Danon Decile. In the final quarter-mile, Croix du Nord and Masquerade Ball raced in traffic and did not have sufficient racing room to challenge for the lead.

Danon Decile, a 5-year-old horse by Epiphaneia, won his third Grade 1 or Group 1 race on Sunday. He won the Grade 1 Japanese Derby in 2024, and the Group 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai in April 2025.

The win on Sunday ended a streak of four third-place finishes in Grade 1 races in Japan for Danon Decile – the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen in the final weeks of 2025, and the Osaka Hai and Takarazuka Kinen earlier this year.

Danon Decile, Croix du Nord and Masquerade Ball are expected to return in the Japan Cup at 1 1/2 miles on Nov. 29. The European stars Calandagan and Ombudsman are expected to run.

Danon Decile, who has won 6 of 15 starts, was the champion 3-year-old colt of 2024 in Japan.

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