page_title: Almond Eye
section_title: 2019: four-year-old season
hierarchical_section_title: Almond Eye / Racing career / 2019: four-year-old season
caption_attribution_description: 日本語: 第160回天皇賞(秋)ゴール前
context_page_description: Almond Eye is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2018 she won the Oka Sho, Yushun Himba and Shuka Sho to complete the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown. In November she ended an unbeaten season with a record-breaking win in the Japan Cup. On her first run of 2019 she won the Dubai Turf and went on to take the Tenno Sho in autumn. She holds a world record over 2,400 meters on turf. Almond Eye is the highest earning racehorse in the world among the racehorses born in 2015.
context_section_description: For her first race as a four-year-old, Almond Eye was sent to the United Arab Emirates to contest the Dubai Turf over 1800 metres at Meydan Racecourse on 30 March. With Lemaire in the saddle she started the 6/5 favourite in a thirteen-runner field which included Dream Castle (Jebel Hatta), Vivlos, Without Parole and Deirdre. After racing in mid-division, Almond Eye made rapid progress in the straight, took the lead 200 metres from the finish and won by one and a quarter lengths from Vivlos, with the British gelding Lord Glitters half a length away in third. Lemaire commented "Down the stretch when I pulled her out, she used her powerful stride as usual. She was very relaxed but the thing was, we took the lead a little bit soon and so I think she relaxed a little bit in the last few yards... We did a good job today, it was beautiful, I think everyone enjoyed seeing such a good horse on the track". The filly was then brought back in distance for the 1600 metre Yasuda Kinen over 1600 metres on 2 June and was made the 7/10 favourite. After failing to obtain a good racing position from a wide draw Almond Eye was repeatedly denied a clear run until the last 300 metres and despite launching a powerful late run she failed by a head and a nose to catch Indy Champ and Aerolithe.
  Almond Eye had been expected to travel to France for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but the plan was cancelled. Almond Eye was suffering hyperthermia after Shuka Sho, Japan Cup and Dubai Turf. The filly returned on 27 October when she contested the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho over 2000 metres at Tokyo and went off the 6/10 favourite against fifteen opponents including Danon Premium, Saturnalia, Al Ain, Wagnerian, Aerolithe, Win Bright, Suave Richard and Makahiki. After settling in sixth place Almond Eye accelerated up the inside rail in the straight, took the lead approaching the last 200 metres and drew away to win by three lengths from Danon Premium. Lemaire said "She was well rested after a long break and showed her true strength today. We were able to follow Aerolithe and Saturnalia in a good position, found a good opening on the rails and she just stretched beautifully from there."
  On her final run of the year Almond Eye started odds on favourite for the Arima Kinen over 2500 metres at Nakayama on 22 December. She raced towards the outside for most of the way and moved up to dispute the lead early in the straight but was soon under pressure and dropped out of contention to finish ninth behind Lys Gracieux. After the race Lemaire said "She was physically fit and in good condition but she couldn’t keep her calm before the crowd in the first lap and lost her rhythm. She was unable to relax and was tired".
  Almond Eye is the highest earning racehorse in the world among the racehorses born in 2015.
caption: Almond Eye wins the Tenno Sho
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