Zenno Rob Roy upset in Tokyo by 75-1 shot

The 75-1 Heavenly Romance denied Zenno Rob Roy a second successive victory in the Grade 1, $2,220,000 Autumn Tenno Sho at Tokyo on Sunday as she outdueled the defending champ by a head.

As in last week's Japanese St. Leger, the first three across the line were all sons or daughters of Sunday Silence, as Dance in the Mood, the runner-up in last year's American Oaks, returned to form to finish third, just a neck behind Zenno Rob Roy, the 6-5 favorite in the 18-runner field.

The time for the 1 1/4 miles on firm ground was 2:00.10.

Trained by Shoji Yamamoto and ridden by Mikio Matsunaga, Heavenly Romance is a 5-year-old mare who had won the 1 1/4-mile Group 2 Sapporo Kinen against males last time out on Aug. 21, and had beaten Asakusa Den'en in a Hanshin listed race last December.

The first three finishers are all candidates for the 1 1/2-mile Japan Cup at Tokyo on Nov. 26.