The Queen to Steal the 'Sho'

THE QUEEN TO STEAL THE 'SHO' 
Tomorrow's $2.3 million G1 Tenno Sho Autumn, one of the more prestigious events on the Japanese calendar, marks the return of Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), whose many accolades include Horse of the Year, Triple Tiara victress and dual G1 Japan Cup winner. The 5-year-old, who finished second to Just A Way (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in this race last year, has had mixed fortunes this campaign. After running sixth on seasonal debut in the G2 Kyoto Kinen Feb. 16, she shipped overseas to best Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic Mar. 29. Her comeback ninth in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen June 29 was the worst performance of her career. “To be honest, I didn't think she'd ever lose that badly,” said Taihei Inoue, assistant to trainer Sei Ishizaka. “Maybe it was the going. Some people say she can't run clockwise, but if that were the case, she wouldn't have won the [G1] Oka Sho [Japanese 1000 Guineas]. It so happens to be that when she runs clockwise, the going has been bad.” 
It is worth noting that Gentildonna has won first-up just once in her career, and usually needs a prep race to reach peak fitness. So while one would be excused for considering this a prep for her tilt at a third Japan Cup, Inoue indicated she is in with a winning chance. “I definitely don't want her to lose here,” he remarked. 

G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) winner Isla Bonita (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}) bypassed last weekend's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) for a shot at his elders in this lofty spot, and like Gentildonna, the sophomore enjoys a five-pound weight break. Unlike in other parts of the world, Japan's Guineas is contested over 2000 meters, so Isla Bonita is proven over the distance. After finishing second in the G1 Japanese Derby, the dark bay–who has never finished worse than second–warmed up for this spot with a victory in the G2 St. Lite Kinen Sept. 21. 

Last year's five-length Kikuka Sho victor Epiphaneia (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S), who was second in the Guineas and Japanese Derby, has not been seen since finishing fourth in Hong Kong's G1 QEII Cup Apr. 27, and makes his first start back off a summer holiday. Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga expressed confidence after working the 4-year-old Oct. 16. “I think he'll really start to get back in the swing of things after today,” Fukunaga said that day. “He's come back to us looking really, really good. He's become a lot easier to ride now. In the spring, he just wasn't himself, even in the workouts. He didn't have that oomph to him. He's not heavy or anything so he should shape up fine in time for the race.” 

Fenomeno (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) has won the spring edition of the G1 Tenno Sho the last two years, and he also comes off the shelf, having last been seen winning this year's renewal May 4. The 5-year-old has won off a layoff before, although never an event this tough, but he is remarkably consistent.