T O Royal Dominates, Securing His Inaugural G1 Victory at the Tenno Sho
Tomoya Ozasa has a distinctive practice of naming his horses, which involves starting each name with his own initials, T O. This unique naming convention makes it easy to identify his horses among others in the racing world.
One of Tomoya Ozasa's notable horses, T O Royal, stood out prominently in the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) held on April 28 at Kyoto Racecourse. Demonstrating impeccable form, T O Royal effortlessly surged ahead from a strategic pace-stalking position, clinching victory in the endurance test with a comfortable two-length lead.
T O Password, the horse that won the qualifying series known as the "Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby," is considered a lesser contender in the upcoming Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Conversely, T O Royal, a 6-year-old horse sired by Leontes, was favored to win the Tenno Sho, a prestigious Grade 1 race in Japan known for its lengthy two-mile distance.
Under the guidance of jockey Yuji Hishida, T O Royal made a strong start, settling into an outside position behind the early frontrunners with ease. Patiently, he awaited the opportune moment as the field approached the final stretch for the second time around the outer loop of the Kyoto Racecourse turf track.
As the race reached its climax, none of the other 16 contenders possessed the vigor to pose a threat to T O Royal's commanding lead. Crossing the finish line with a comfortable margin of two lengths, T O Royal claimed victory, leaving Blow the Horn trailing behind. Meanwhile, Deep Bond, who had secured second place in the previous three editions of the race, narrowly missed retaining his position but managed to secure third-place honors.
Durezza. Despite starting with good prospects as the second favorite, Durezza gradually lost position and ended up finishing in 15th place in the race. This elaboration highlights the contrast between the initial expectations and the eventual outcome for Durezza in the race.
In his 18th career start, T O Royal faced top-level competition for the third time. Previously, he secured a third-place finish in the 2022 Tenno Sho (Spring) and ended up in 14th place in the Japan Cup (G1) that same year.
T O Royal came into this year's Tenno Sho with a newfound confidence. This confidence stemmed from his recent back-to-back victories in the Diamond Stakes (G3) and the Hanshin Daishoten (G2), both prestigious races in Japan. These wins demonstrated his ability to excel in longer-distance races, leading racing enthusiasts to believe that he could handle the demanding conditions of the upcoming race.
Hishida confirmed that the journey was as seamless as it seemed.
"The horse raced in good rhythm and responded well going downhill after the third corner," he said. "So, we were able to turn the last corner comfortably and slip out of the pack with ease.
"I'm really happy to have won this race because I decided to become a jockey when I saw this race 20 years ago," Hishida added.
After T O Royal's triumph in the Hanshin Daishoten, his team didn't hesitate to express confidence in his preparedness for the Tenno Sho.
"Everything about his prep has gone smoothly. The competition will take a step up, but there's nowhere this horse comes up short. He has come into his own now ... He has ample stamina and, with the condition he's in presently, I think he has ample chance." Assistant trainer Atsushi Obayashi commented in anticipation of the Tenno Sho. "The horse seems to have improved even more"
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