Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho Spring provides the stayers an opportunity to showcase their talents, and the 3200-metre contest in Kyoto is dominated in the betting by last year's Classic crop. Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Etario (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}), one-two in last October's G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), return to do battle once again and are the leaders in the wagering but both have to buck a last-out loss. Sunday Racing's Fierement has never been worse than second in five outings and he was second to Sciacchetra (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}) as the favourite on his seasonal debut in the Jan. 20 G2 American Jockey Club Cup over 2200 metres at Nakayama. Trainer Takahisa Tezuka noted that the colt emerged from that race with a “slight fever”, but that he appears back on track now. “He's since had a break at Northern Farm Tenei, and after returning, his training on Apr. 10 was fine,” the trainer said. “He picked up speed well and moved without any problems.”
Etario has also never been off the board, but his fortune has been much different from Fierement's. From 10 starts he has posted just one win and been second seven times, including his last three straight. Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said Etario will have an equipment change off a second to Meisho Tekkon (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}) in the G2 Nikkei Sho on Mar. 23.
“Last time in the Nikkei Sho he took the bit from the start and ran well,” the trainer said. “Since that run, we've changed his blinkers to a lighter type and he's worked well in training, not showing any problem and running powerfully.”
Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was fifth in the Kikuka Sho, and comes into this off a win in the G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai on Jan. 13. Trainer Tomohito Ozeki said the dark bay was a bit tired after that effort, and was thus freshened for this spot.
The aforementioned 6-year-old Sciacchetra is two from two this season after missing all of 2018, his most recent score coming over 3000 metres in the G2 Hanshin Daishoten on Mar. 17. You Can Smile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) is another coming off a win, having scored in the 3400 metre G3 Diamond S. on Feb. 16.
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