Almond Eye and Lemaire score record eighth Grade 1 win in pulsating Tenno Sho

Almond Eye created history on Sunday when becoming the first horse on the Japan Racing Association circuit to win eight times at Grade 1 level on turf, holding off the late charges of Fierement and Chrono Genesis in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).

In doing so she eclipses such illustrious company as Deep Impact, Gentildonna and Kitasan Black, all of whom won seven times at the top level.

Jockey Christophe Lemaire showed rare levels of emotion afterwards, throwing his arms around Almond Eye's neck and giving her a longing kiss when dismounting.

"It's hard to express, it was an unbelievable performance," said Lemaire, who has been aboard the five-year-old daughter of Lord Kanaloa for all eight of her Grade 1 successes stretching back to the Japanese 1,000 Guineas in April 2018.

"She's the Japanese number one and so strong, but I always feel the pressure. And of course I wanted to get the eighth Grade 1 win, so the pressure was even greater than usual."

Lemaire took a prominent early sit in the first half-dozen as Danon Premium set fierce early fractions and as Almond Eye cruised in to contention it looked as if the race was over as a meaningful contest at the furlong marker.

But Chrono Genesis and crack stayer Fierement came out of the pack with determined challenges and at the line there was a diminishing half-length in it.

"She relaxed in the stalls and broke well," added Lemaire. "The leader began to empty so she was left in front quite early. Once we hit the rising ground her response was a little bit weak and, when the two horses came after us, I was worried. But she held out. She's very strong."

Almond Eye was denied a chance to repeat her 2019 success in the Dubai Turf when the meeting was cancelled but has since recorded her seventh and eighth career Grade 1 victoriesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Lemaire continued: "Every racing fan wants to see her back on a racecourse, and it feels like she has more to give. I think she can race once or twice more, but it's the trainer's and owners' choice."

Almond Eye was one of 20 Japanese horse to have their spring schedules interrupted by an aborted trip to Dubai, but bounced back to win the fillies-only Victoria Mile in mid-May before finding Gran Alegria too strong in the Yasuda Kinen.

The mile and a quarter of the Tenno Sho Autumn appears to suit Almond Eye perfectly, but trainer Sakae Kunieda and owners Silk Racing now have the option of the Japan Cup on November 29 – which she won in 2018 as a three-year-old – and the Arima Kinen on December 27 to consider, both at around a mile and a half, as well as the Hong Kong Cup over a mile and a quarter on December 13.

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