OVER 79,000 people were at Kyoto racecourse to witness the spring edition of the biannual Tenno Sho (Emperor’s Cup). Confined to older horses, it is run over the marathon distance of 3200 metres (two miles) as opposed to its autumn counter-part which is contested over 2000 metres.

Kitasan Black announced himself to the top echelons of the Japanese staying ranks when winning the 2015 renewal of the Group 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) over 3000 metres.

He followed up with a commendable third place in the season-ending Group 1 Arima Kinen (2500m) where he competed for the first time against Japan’s elite older horses

Drawn in stall one, the 7/2 second favourite broke straight to the fore and dictated a sedate early pace before quickening and extending his lead four furlongs out. The Hisashi Shimizu-trained colt was joined and headed by 98/1 Curren Mirotic inside the final furlong but Kitasan Black was galvanised by crowd favourite Yutaka Take in a prolonged homestretch duel.

The duo eventually conjured one final effort which enabled the four-year-old son of Black Tide to regain the lead in the shadow of the post and capture his second win at the most elite level, albeit by the narrowest of margins

Race favourite, 2015 Group 1 Arima Kinen winner Gold Actor, threatened to get involved off the last bend but faded quickly two furlongs out. This calls into question his ability to compete at Group 1 level at distances greater than 12 and a half furlongs where he has been most effective to date.

Breeders Stallion Station-resident Black Tide stands for a covering fee of 3,000,000 yen (€24,000). He was a Group 2 winner as a four-year-old and is by Sunday Silence out of Group 1 winner Wind in Her Hair (Alzao).

However, his success on the track and in the breeding shed have been categorically overshadowed by the exploits of his peerless younger full-brother, four-time Champion sire, Deep Impact.

Despite siring 23 individual Group 1 winners, Deep Impact incredibly has yet to produce a son to win more than once at Group 1 level domestically. This is one accolade that Black Tide has now achieved before his illustrious sibling.

Kitasan Black is owned by popular traditional Japanese Enka (which resembles blues music) singer and actor Saburo Kitajima. After receiving the owner’s prize and while standing beside winning trainer and jockey, the popular entertainer treated the rapturous crowd to an impromptu song.

TAKE BREAKS RECORDS

The success on board Kitasan Black marked the seventh win in the Tenno Sho and the 70th Group 1 win in the JRA for 47-year-old veteran jockey, Yutaka Take.

His first Group 1 win came in the Kikuka Sho in 1988 aboard Super Creek. First licenced in the JRA in 1987, he has managed to win a Group 2 race or better in every season of his 30-year career.

The former champion jockey is engaged to ride Japanese hopeful Lani in the Kentucky Derby this weekend. Lani is the first Japanese raider on the American showpiece since 1995 when Ski Captain, also ridden by Take, finished a disappointing 14th.