Danon Desailes wins Japan’s Autumn Tenno Sho by two and a half lengths

Danon Desailes won the Autumn Tenno Sho at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday, Japan’s 2,000-metre turf race for older horses.

Jockey Keita Tosaki guided the five-year-old to a two-and-a-half-length victory in a time of 1 minute 56.7 seconds.

The horse started from the outside gate, considered a disadvantage on this course, and had not won in four races since placing third in last year’s Japan Cup.

The team discussed its approach for several days, then Tosaki held back early and made his move from the outside in the straight.

Nebra Disk finished second, while Regaleira took third in the 17-horse field.

The win ended a long stretch of near misses for Danon Desailes and showed the horse’s strength over the distance.

Trainer Shogo Yasuda said he would assess the horse before proposing a plan to its owner; the next race is still undecided, with the Japan Cup, Arima Kinen or a trip to Hong Kong among the possibilities.