Japan Derby winner Fenomeno takes $2.8 million Tenno Sho

Fenomeno, second in the 2012 Japan Derby, won the first Grade 1 race of his career in Sunday’s $2.805 million Tenno Sho at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan.

The 5-1 second choice, Fenomeno won the race over about two miles by 1 1/4 lengths over Tosen Ra, a 12-1 shot. Red Cadeaux, second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup behind Animal Kingdom in March, finished third in the field of 18.

Gold Ship, who had won four consecutive graded stakes, was fifth of 18 as the 6-5 favorite. The champion 3-year-old colt of 2012 in Japan, Gold Ship was well-placed in early stretch but could not threaten Fenomeno, who was ridden by Masayoshi Ebina for trainer Hirofumi Toda.

Fenomeno stalked the pace to the final turn before taking the lead in the stretch. Fenomeno races for Sunday Racing Club, and has won 6 of 11 starts.

The Tenno Sho is the leading race for older horses over a distance on the Japanese spring calendar.

Fenomeno, a 4-year-old colt by Stay Gold, had won three Grade 2 races in his career, including the Nikkei Sho at Nakayama Racecourse on March 23 in his first start of 2013. Fenomeno was fifth in the Japan Cup last November.