Three-year-old colt Efforia triumphs in three-way battle for Group 1 Tenno Sho

This year's Tenno Sho, at Tokyo on Sunday, ended up as a battle between the top three in the market, with last year's Triple Crown winner and favourite Contrail taking in his first race after a seven-month break against Gran Alegria and Satsuki Sho hero Efforia, who was runner-up in the Japanese Derby.

The sole three-year-old colt Efforia raced in sixth behind the leaders before coming home to defeat the lunging-late Contrail by a length, with Gran Alegria a neck back in third.

Efforia, a son of Epiphaneia and out of Hearts Cry's winning mare Katies Heart, was making it a fifth win from six career starts, while for winning rider Takeshi Yokoyama this was a second Group 1 victory in a week following the Kikuka Sho, in which he partnered Titleholder.

Yokoyama's success also marked a third generation win in the race following on from his grandfather Tomio Yokoyama, on Mejiro Taiyo in 1969, and father Norihiro Yokoyama (Company, 2009).

Yokoyama said: "I was happy and cried for the first time in my life after getting him beaten in the Derby. Although it is a Covid disaster, I would like to say thank you for being able to race in front of a large number of people.

Efforia: winner of the Tenno ShoCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

"He's a horse who starts a race well and is quite versatile. We got into an ideal position, and I believed in the ability of the horse. Titleholder and Efforia are good horses.

"I think it's hard to do three generations of parents and children, and it's a small goal but I'm glad I was able to achieve it."

Contrail's rider Yuichi Fukunaga said: "He was in great condition, even after the long break, but he was a bit restless in the stalls and broke unevenly.

"The winner had the ideal position. Although his response was good at the top of the home straight, he tired 100 metres from home."

Christophe-Patrice Lemaire said of third-placed Gran Alegria: "She broke well but her response was not the same as usual. It was quite soft ground and a mile and a quarter is longer than her best. A mile is better for her."

Racing Post takes seriously its commitment to Safer Gambling and encourages people to stay within their limits and stay in control. If you would like to know more visit our dedicated Safer Gambling page here