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Posted 2014-11-05 07:37:21  
Spielberg Steals the Show for First G1 Title in the Tenno Sho (Autumn)

Fifth favorite Spielberg captured his first grade-race, and needless to say, his first G1 victory in this year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn). Delicately built, he was given a long break after marking a 14th in the 2012 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) due to some uncertainty in his legs. However after scoring a sixth in his comeback race in August last year, he claimed three consecutive wins in four starts thereafter in Tokyo, and marked a third in his most recent start, the Mainichi Okan (G2). His full brother Tosen Ra is also a JRA G1 winner (2013 Mile Championship). For trainer Kazuo Fujisawa, this is his 22nd JRA G1 victory and fifth Tenno Sho (Autumn) triumph following Bubble Gum Fellow’s win in 1996, Symboli Kris S in 2002 and 2003 and Zenno Rob Roy in 2004. Jockey Hiroshi Kitamura celebrates his second G1 title since 2006 when he landed the Victoria Mile with Dance in the Mood.

As the race got underway at the bottom of the homestretch, five-year-old Spielberg was off unhurried and kept in fifth from the rear as the field, headed by Curren Black Hill and Meiner Lacrima, cruised in a long line down the backstretch. Looming up from the outside to make his bid for the final attack, the Deep Impact bay unleashed a spectacular drive swooping past third favorite Fenomeno at the furlong pole and closed strongly unhesitatingly picking off the leaders one by one, especially the dueling Isla Bonita and Gentildonna in the last strides for a 3/4 length win.

“He’s never a sharp starter, but we were able to travel smoothly down the backstretch. I guided him out to avoid the leaders that were bunched up at the top of the stretch, and he responded beautifully. He’s been lightly raced with long intervals, but he’s gaining strength and is developing well. As long as he’s fit, I’m sure he’ll continue to show good results,” commented Hiroshi Kitamura after the race.

“He’s best at this distance (2,000m). He is in hand and has a liking for the Tokyo course, so the coming Japan Cup is likely to be his next target,” Kazuo Fujisawa commented.

Kept on the rails and close to the pace in third after breaking well from the innermost stall, last year’s runner-up Gentildonna tried to make the most of her economic trip, but struggled to find space between the rails and the pacesetter Curren Black Hill in the stretch. Isla Bonita had gained a lead pinning the two at the furlong pole, but the multiple G1 winner found another gear to tag, rally and overtake the three-year-old colt in the final strides for another runner-up finish.

Isla Bonita, the only three-year-old colt but sent off favored in the field of 18, broke well from a wide stall to travel half-a-length behind Gentildonna on her outside in the early stages. Fourth to enter the lane, the colt galloped on strongly to inherit the lead 300 meters out, however gave way to the runner-up a few strides to the wire for a head third.

Other Horses:
4th: (11) Love Is Boo Shet—raced in mid-pack, sustained bid throughout stretch
5th: (2) Hit the Target—settled along rail in rear pack, switched to outer and responded well
6th: (5) Epiphaneia—ran in mid-group, showed effort but short for top finishers
7th: (3) Denim and Ruby—traveled in front of winner, accelerated after switching to outer lane at last 200m
8th: (7) Satono Noblesse—hugged rail in 5th, met traffic at 300m out, showed effort
9th: (13) Curren Black Hill—set pace, held well until last 100m
10th: (6) Dark Shadow—raced front in mid-division, found little room at top of stretch
11th: (18) Meiner Lacrima—pressed pace in 2nd from widest stall, ran out of steam in last 100m
12th: (8) Decipher—settled near rear, met traffic and quickened in last 200m
13th: (14) Martinborough—ran behind favorite in 5-6th, fell back after 200m-pole
14th: (9) Fenomeno—raced 4-wide toward rear, even paced at stretch
15th: (12) Fragarach—reserved near rear, failed to respond
16th: (10) Pelusa—trailed in rear, never threatened
17th: (16) Tosen Jordan—traveled wide in mid-pack, weakened after 300m out
18th: (17) Asuka Kurichan—almost rear, no factor 

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