Tenno Sho (Spring) Preview: The Longest of Japan's G1 Events

Following the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama Racecourse on April 19, top-level action moves to Kyoto Racecourse for the Tenno Sho (Spring) on Sunday, May 3.

Along with the Tenno Sho (Autumn) run over 2,000 meters at Tokyo, the race’s spring version is also one of Japan’s most esteemed races.

Tenno Sho translates to “Emperor’s Prize.”

First held in 1938, the Tenno Sho (Spring) is a long-runner historically as well as by distance. It is the longest of Japan’s Grade 1 events at 3,200 meters and requires over 3 minutes to complete over the right-handed track. Known by its current name since 1948, the Tenno Sho has, with the exception of 1945 and 1946, been run every year. The spring version has maintained its distance of 3,200 meters since 1939.

For Sunday’s event, 16 horses, ranging in age from 4 to 9, were nominated for the Tenno Sho’s 18 berths, and they will compete for a first-place prize of ¥300 million JPY (about $1.9 million USD) or a lesser share of the total purse of ¥651 million (nearly $4.1 million).

Thirteen male runners, including two geldings, will carry 58 kg. The field’s three mares will be saddled with 56 kg.

About the 2026 Tenno Sho (Spring)

On Sunday, three-time Grade 1 champion Croix Du Nord is expected to be neck and neck with Admire Terra as race favorite, with Redentor close behind as a top 3 pick. After that, it’s a tough call, with another handful of names being bantered about by racing enthusiasts hoping to dial in on the top finishers.

Races often seen as top indicators of success in the Tenno Sho (Spring) are the Stayers Stakes (G2, Nakayama, 3,600 meters, December 2025), the Diamond Stakes (G3, Tokyo, 3,400 meters, February 21), the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, Hanshin, 3,000 meters, March 22) and the Nikkei Sho (G2, Nakayama, 2,500 meters, March 28).

Horses participating on Sunday who were top 3 finishers in these races are Meiner Campana, Hohelied, Stinger Glass, Admire Terra and Aqua Vernal.

Late Speed is Often a Key Factor

At Kyoto Racecourse, the 3,200-meter event is run clockwise on turf and circles one-and-a-half times around. The start is from halfway down the backstretch and soon after, the track rises sharply, climbing nearly four meters in little more than 100 meters around the first turn before sloping down and around into the homestretch. Then the field passes the grandstand, continues around and, once again turning out of the backstretch, this point is where many make their move. Once into the stretch, the track is flat and favors those with late speed.

Over the past 10 runnings at Kyoto (the race was held at Hanshin in 2021 and 2022), the far inside gate has shown itself advantageous, as has the No 4 gate. The race favorite has won five times and finished second three times.

Kitasan Black set the race record in 2017, clocking 3 minutes, 12.5 seconds.

The Tenno Sho (Spring) is the 11th race on the Sunday card of 12. Post time is 3:40 PM.

Here’s a look at some of the runners expected to play a part in the race:

Croix du Nord is seen en route to victory in the 2026 Osaka Hai on April 5 at Hanshin Racecourse. (©SANKEI)

Croix du Nord Brings Lofty Credentials

One of two 4-year-old colts in the lineup, Croix du Nord has had a stellar career thus far, with six wins from nine starts, including three G1 victories. He was recognized by the Japan Racing Association as the Best Two-Year-Old Colt of 2024.

Runner-up in the Satsuki Sho, his other top victories are the 2025 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and his most recent win, the G1 Osaka Hai, where he prevailed despite a wide draw and a trip up the outside. Prior to that, Croix du Nord had also pocketed a Group 3 victory in France before suffering his first major defeat in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October 2025.

Two months later, he finished fourth in the G1 Japan Cup, with a not-too-shabby time, only 0.6 seconds behind winner Calandagan and Croix du Nord’s peer and rival, the Japan Cup runner-up Masquerade Ball.

Having passed on the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) in 2025 to go abroad, Croix du Nord’s longest distance thus far has been 2,400 meters. However, if he’s anything like his sire, Kitasan Black (winner of the Spring Tenno Sho in 2016 and 2017 and five other G1s), he’ll be able to take the extra distance in stride.

If the striking black colt can capture Sunday’s Tenno Sho, he’ll become the ninth Derby winner to do so, the first in 19 years. He would also become the first winner in 13 years that has had no previous experience over distances of 3,000 meters and up.

Redentor prepares for the Tenno Sho (Spring) during a workout at the JRA Miho Training Center in Miho, Ibaraki Prefecture, on April 29. (©KYODO)

Lemaire Chasing Milestone with Redentor

With six wins from 10 starts, this 5-year-old son of Rulership passed on the first two 3-year-old Classics, but took on the final Triple Crown contest, the Kikuka Sho, and finished second. From there, he showed that his prowess as a stayer was no fluke when he aced the G3 Diamond Stakes over 3,400 meters, followed by a win of the 2025 Tenno Sho (Spring).

Returning in mid-February after a fracture, he was prepped in the Grade 2 Kyoto Kinen over 2,200 meters and finished eighth, likely due to not only coming off a nine-month spell, but also his often-seen late breaks, coupled with the shorter distance.

Sunday’s race will also likely see a change in riders for this race. Damian Lane rode Redentor to victory last year, but Christophe Lemaire is expected up this time.

Lemaire has ridden six of Redentor’s races thus far, and has notched four wins and one second-place finish. The Frenchman has already collected three Tenno Sho (Spring) victories. And he’s triumphed six times in the Autumn Tenno Sho.

If Lemaire finishes first on Sunday, he will become the third jockey (only the second, along with Yutaka Take, among current riders) to earn a combined total of 10 wins in the two Tenno Sho races.

Admire Terra Excelled in Hanshin Daishoten

Third in the 2024 Kikuka Sho only a nose behind Redentor, 5-year-old Admire Terra’s next big event saw him finish in 11th place in the 2025 Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix).

Admire Terra made his 2026 debut at the G2 Hanshin Daishoten in late February, topping the field of 10 (and runner-up Aqua Vernal) by three lengths over 3,000 meters. Displaying a great amount of growth, he also rewrote the course record time to 3 minute, 2 seconds.

It should be noted that over the past decade all horses coming off a win of the Hanshin Daishoten have figured in the top 4 finishers of the Tenno Sho (Spring), with three of them winning.

Expected in the saddle is legendary jockey Take. He’s notched three victories in the four races he’s been paired with Admire Terra.

Take, 57, holds the Tenno Sho (Spring) record with eight wins.

Read the rest of this article about the Tenno Sho and the Japanese horses in contention on JRA News.

Author: JRA News