Horse racing: Almond Eye goes into retirement as Japan Cup champ

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Race-favorite Almond Eye captured a record ninth turf Grade 1 victory on Sunday in the 40th running of the Japan Cup, her final race before retirement.

In the first head-to-head matchup between three winners of the Japanese Triple Crowns for colts and fillies, Almond Eye, the 2018 fillies champion, beat out this year's champs, 3-year-old colt Contrail and 3-year-old filly Daring Tact, who both suffered their first career defeats.

With Christophe Lemaire aboard, the 5-year-old mare got off to a fast start and took a strong position along the rail with second-favorite Contrail as they stalked runaway leader Kiseki.

In the final stretch of the 2,400-meter race held at Tokyo Racecourse, Contrail broke first and jetted past Kiseki but could not hold off Almond Eye.

"She reminded us all what a great champion she is by winning yet another G1 race," Lemaire said. "What pleases me the most is that she goes into retirement having run her final race without incident."

"This mare is a true professional. She never gave me a second of anxiety today. Whatever I asked her for, she delivered. She is Japan's strongest horse, and I'm filled with gratitude toward her."

Almond Eye won by more than a length in 2 minutes, 23 seconds. Contrail finished a neck ahead of Daring Tact, who edged out fifth-favorite Curren Bouquetd'or by a nose.

"Every time I get to ride Almond Eye is special," Lemaire said. "Today, for her retirement race, it was even more special."

Lemaire had cried after riding the mare to her eighth turf G1 win, a record for a Japan-bred horse that included one win abroad, at this month's Autumn Tenno-sho, but there were no tears this time.

"Last time there was a record on the line, and there was so much pressure, that winning was a huge relief," the jockey said of his Tenno-sho display.

"This time was a sayonara party. That's the difference."

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Race favorite Almond Eye became the first Japanese racehorse to claim eight Grade 1 victories on turf Sunday after winning the autumn Tenno-sho by half a length.

Steered by Christophe Lemaire, the five-year-old mare covered 2,000 meters in 1 minute, 57.8 seconds at Tokyo Racecourse to defend the title she won a year ago.

"I really wanted to secure her eighth G1 win. There was pressure but Almond Eye had a really good race," Frenchman Lemaire said after winning his fifth Tenno-sho title.

"The leading horse tired early, making things a bit tough (in the final stretch), but she hung on well."

Lemaire rode Almond Eye to her first G1 victory outside of Japan in May 2019 at the Dubai Turf.

The mare had tied six other horses, including Deep Impact, for a Japanese record of seven G1 victories at the Victoria Mile in May.

Almond Eye has 10 wins from 14 races overall.

Five-year-old Fierement, ridden by Lemaire to a second straight spring Tenno-sho crown in May, ran second on Sunday after starting as fifth-favorite. Second-favorite Chrono Genesis was third by a neck.

KYOTO (Kyodo) -- Daring Tact made history on Sunday at Kyoto Racecourse, winning the 25th running of the Shuka-sho to become the first undefeated champion of Japan's filly triple crown.

With Kohei Matsuyama aboard, the favorite covered the 2,000-meter distance over turf in 2 minutes, 0.6 second to outstrip 10th favorite Magic Castle by more than a length in the race for 3-year-old fillies. Ninth-favorite Soft Fruit was third.

Daring Tact has now won all five races she's been entered in.

"Winning is a relief," Matsuyama said. "We were able to go with the flow and run a good horse race."

"I approached this race believing my horse was the strongest. Being with this horse has been a blessing."

Daring Tact is the sixth filly triple crown winner, and the first since Almond Eye in 2018. The first two legs are April's Oka-sho and May's Japanese Oaks.

From the end of February, races were held behind closed doors, but that total ban was lifted from Oct. 10, and about 900 fans were able to witness the race in person.