Redentor wins this year’s Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto.

Race favorite Redentor claimed his first G1 and second graded title in this year's Tenno Sho (Spring), coming off his first graded win in the Diamond Stakes (G3, 3,400m) on February 22. Raced only over 2,000 meters since his debut in November of his two-year-old season, the son of Rulership broke his maiden in January of the following season and added another win in March but missed the spring classics. After registering two wins in allowance races in the summer, Redentor concluded his sophomore season with a runner-up effort in his first G1 challenge in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, 3,000m). Trainer Tetsuya Kimura, who has two Tenno Sho (Autumn) titles with Equinox in 2022 and 2023, won his 13th JRA-G1 title following his title in this year's February Stakes with Costa Nova. Jockey Damian Lane, who has been riding under a short-term license since yesterday, notched his sixth JRA-G1 title after winning the 2023 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with Tastiera.

First to break out of the gate, Redentor eased back and settled around 6-7th from the frontrunner. The Rulership colt continued to travel in mid-division by the rails and, unhurried as some of his rivals began to accelerate approaching the final corners, gradually angled out rounding the last corners to make bid from the outside. The dark bay responded willingly to jockey Damian Lane's urging, took the front past the 200-meter pole and, although challenged by the fast-closing Byzantine Dream in the last 100 meters, managed to outduel the chestnut at the wire.

"I'm very privileged to ride in this special race and win it. I wanted to get the horse in a good position and good rhythm and get him to relax because he can get a little keen in the races. He was traveling very strong at the third corner and I had to be patient and wait and get him to the outside to give him a clear running. I think he's still relatively young in the mind and immature and so he's learning all the time, which means that he can continue to race at the top level over the next couple of years," commented Damian Lane.

Slow out of the gate, sixth choice Byzantine Dream traveled the first lap in the rear, gradually advanced forward in the second lap and continued to improve his position turning the last corners wide to enter the lane on the heels of Redentor. The Epiphaneia colt launched a tremendous late charge that marked the fastest last three furlongs and dueled with the race favorite to the wire but finished a head short in second.

Unhurried in 11th early while racing wide throughout the trip, fourth pick Shonan La Punta gradually made headway, passing the winner with 1,200 meters to go. The Kizuna colt rallied for the lead at the early stretch and, although overtaken by the top two finishers after the 200-meter pole, easily secured third place by three lengths.

Other Horses:

4th: (5) Sunrise Earth—settled around 4th, gradually closed in on frontrunners, rallied for lead but
              no match for top finishers in last 150m
5th: (11) Meiner Emperor—tracked leaders in 3rd, led 1,200m to go, showed tenacity until 100m
                out
6th: (13) Justin Palace—positioned near rear, advanced at backstretch, entered stretch in 4th,
                failed to find another gear
7th: (9) Chevalier Rose—ran wide around 11th, lacked needed kick
8th: (3) Blow the Horn—saved ground around 9th, failed to respond at stretch
9th: (12) Warp Speed—sat around 14th, circled wide, passed tired rivals
10th: (7) Pradaria—tracked leader in 2nd, remained in contention until early stretch
11th: (15) Hayatenofukunosuke—settled around 6th outside winner, showed little at stretch
12th: (2) Win Erfolg—far rear throughout trip
13th: (10) Limit Buster—traveled around 10th, unbale to reach contention
14th: (4) Jean Kazuma—rallied for lead to set pace, faded after 3rd corner
15th: (1) Arata—hugged rails around 5th, dropped back after 1,200m pole