Last Year's victor Fenomeno defended his title by holding off a strong challenge by Win Variation and Hokko Brave to become the third horse in JRA history to claim the Tenno Sho (Spring) title for two consecutive years. This win marked his second G1 and fifth grade-race victory. Fenomeno was runner-up in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2.400m) and the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) as a three-year-old and captured his first G1 title in the Tenno Sho (Spring) last year. After finishing fourth in the following Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m), he developed a tendon inflammation in his left foreleg, which ruled him out of racing for his entire fall season, and was fifth in his comeback start in the Nikkei Sho (G2, 2,500m) this March.

Trainer Hirofumi Toda claimed his third JRA G1 victory following last year's Tenno Sho (Spring), and jockey Masayoshi Ebina registered his 21st JRA G1, having won the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) with Isla Bonita (JPN) just two weeks ago. "This win is the result of the stable staff that really made a great effort to bring him back to form. He got me worried early because he was a bit keen the first time going downhill after the third corner, but I knew he would make it when he put in a breather passing the stand (the first time). I just concentrated on giving our best performance instead of worrying about the other horses," commented Ebina.

Fourth favorite Fenomeno broke smoothly and eased back to around 7-8th from frontrunner Satono Noblesse, while twelfth choice Hokko Brave traveled right behind the defending champion in tenth. Third pick Win Variation settled in the rear pack and race favorite Kizuna traveled in his usual position near the rear, second from Gold Ship who had to race in the very rear due to a poor break.

As the field entered the second lap and started to pick up pace approaching the final corner, Masayoshi Ebina steered the five-year-old Fenomeno to the outside, from where the son of Stay Gold exerted a powerful drive and closed in on the frontrunners with Win Variation rushing out close behind on the outside. Fenomeno assumed command passing the 200-meter pole and held off a strong challenge by the six-year-old Win Variation and also by Hokko Brave who unleashed an impressive late charge in the last furlong, to claim his second consecutive Tenno Sho win. Win Variation managed to cross the wire a nose in front of Hokko Brave for second place. Kizuna also produced a remarkable charge from behind but belatedly and finished fourth, 1/2 a length behind Hokko Brave.

Red Cadeaux broke well from stall five and was perfectly placed around fifth or sixth by Gerald Mosse but began resisting to the extremely fast ground and dropped back as the real competition began at the homestretch.

"We could tell that he hated that ground. Gerald gave him a terrific ride and, at eight years old, he can race on good to firm ground, but he just can't race on a ground like that. We had a little bit of rain during the week but it did nothing to that surface. I'm just thankful that he pulled up sound although he'll be sore tomorrow for sure. We haven't decided on what he'll do next. We'll take him back to England for now," commented Robin Trevor-Jones. Gerald Mosse also said, "I was very happy with the condition of the horse. He looked fantastic-even better than last year from my opinion-and he gave me everything in the race. I got a perfect position, a lovely race, but after halfway, I had to ask him to keep his position, and in the last 500 to 600 meters, I started to have trouble because he was not travelling. He's an honest horse and tried his best but, at eight years old, I think it's difficult now for him to bring out his best when the ground is too firm."

Other Horses:
5th: (9) Tanino Epaulette-saved ground throughout in rear group, advanced to make bid along rails
6th: (10) Fame Game-raced wide well off the pace, headway after last turn, no serious threat
7th: (8) Gold Ship-trailed in rear, circled whole field, final turn losing ground and unable to reach leaders
8th: (3) Satono Noblesse-quick out of gate to set pace, pinned by winner soon after furlong pole
9th: (11) Last Impact-rated mid-field to start, advanced to front group with 2,000m to go, outrun last 200m
10th: (4) Silent Melody-chased pace in second early and in front group up to final turn, one paced
11th: (2) Admire Flight-broke sharply to second, allowed to settle slightly back around fifth, unable to stay
12th: (13) Ocean Blue-traveled behind in rear group, unable to threaten
13th: (15) Admire Rakti-ran towards rear, showed little at stretch
15th: (17) Hit the Target-prominent early, used up with 300m to go
16th: (16) Jaguar Mail-raced wide in mid-pack, dropped back between 3rd and final corner
17th: (18) Desperado-traveled wide outside winner, fell back 800m out
18th: (1) Asuka Kurichan-5th, then soon chased leader in 2nd, came up empty before final corner