Race favourite Masquerade Ball, making his first appearance on a racecourse since chasing home Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) in June's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), made the breakthrough at the top level with a comfortable success in Sunday's Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Racecourse.Trained by Takahisa Tezuka, Masquerade Ball was allowed to settle in mid-division for much of the 2,000-metre contest. The Duramente colt was caught behind horses as the field closed inon the leader approaching the final turn, having to wait for horses on his outside to pass, before finding enough space to angle out for a clear run. Picking up well once finally seeing daylight entering the final two furlongs, he hit the front with 100 metres to run and was ultimately an authoritative winner, by three quarters of a length from his fellow Classic alumni Museum Mile (Leontes), the winner of April's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas). The six-year-old Justin Palace (Deep Impact) was beaten another neck in the final podium position, with the same distance back to Shirankedo (Declaration Of War) in fourth.Winning jockey Christophe Lemaire was celebrating Group 1 glory for the third weekend in succession, having won the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) with Energico (Duramente) just a week ago and the Shuka Sho with Embroidery (Admire Mars) another week before that. The French native now has a total of six Tenno Sho (Autumn) titles following those of Rey de Oro (2018), Almond Eye (2019 and 2020) and Equinox (2022 and 2023).“It's great to be standing on this podium again for the third week and I'm delighted to have won the Tenno Sho (Autumn),” said Lemaire. “I was racing behind Tastiera to keep a close eye on him during the trip. Then after the uphill, Masquerade Ball found his own speed and another gear to outrun the rest to the wire. He was amazing.“While with good potential, he was probably still green when he was second in the Derby. But he's matured and become stronger coming into the fall season and maybe could go for another Group 1 this year. If not, he will definitely be among the top horses next season.”Prior to filling the runner-up spot in the Tokyo Yushun, Masquerade Ball registered another Classic placing when finishing third behind Museum Mile in the Satsuki Sho. He returned this season with a victory in the G3 Kyodo News Hai at Tokyo, having also won twice in three starts as a two-year-old, including the Listed Ivy Stakes at the same venue. He's done it AGAIN Christophe Lemaire wins his 6⃣th Tenno Sho as the 3yo Masquerade Ball shows his rivals a clean pair of heels in the £2.9million Grade 1.#TennoShoAutumn | @HorseRacing_JPN pic.twitter.com/kNDxih4l97— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 2, 2025 Pedigree NotesMasquerade Ball is one of five winners from six runners out of the winning Deep Impact mare Mask Off, with the others including the multiple Group 2 scorer Masked Diva (Rulership) and the Listed October Stakes third To Face (Maurice). His second dam, the three-time Listed winner Behind The Mask (White Muzzle), is a half-sister to the GIII Tampa Bay Derby and GIII Woodlawn Stakes-winning sire Phantom Jet. Behind The Mask has also produced the multiple Group-placed Omega Vendetta (Zenno Rob Roy) and the G3 March Stakes third Masked Hero (Heart's Cry), among seven winners in total.Sunday, Tokyo, JapanTENNO SHO (AUTUMN)-G1, ¥574,260,000, Tokyo, 11-2, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:58.60, fm.1–MASQUERADE BALL (JPN), 123, c, 3, by Duramente (Jpn) 1st Dam: Mask Off (Jpn), by Deep Impact (Jpn) 2nd Dam: Behind The Mask (Jpn), by White Muzzle (GB) 3rd Dam: Vain Gold, by Mr Prospector1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm;T-Takahisa Tezuka; J-Christophe Lemaire; ¥302,982,000.Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-1, ¥550,610,000. *1/2 to Masked Diva(Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), MGSW & MG1SP-Jpn, $1,437,999; andTo Face (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), SP-Jpn, $913,165.Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.2–Museum Mile (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Leontes (Jpn)–Museum Hill(Jpn), by Heart's Cry (Jpn). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm;¥120,852,000.3–Justin Palace (Jpn), 128, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–PalaceRumor, by Royal Anthem. (¥190,000,000 Ylg '20 JRHJUL).O-Masahiro Miki; B-Northern Farm; ¥75,426,000.Margins: 3/4, NK, NK. Odds: 2.70, 7.40, 20.40.Also Ran: Shirankedo (Jpn), Urban Chic (Jpn), Meisho Tabaru (Jpn), Seiun Hades (Jpn), Tastiera (Jpn), Queen's Walk (Jpn), Brede Weg (Jpn), Ecoro Waltz (Jpn), Cosmo Kuranda (Jpn),Ho O Biscuits (Jpn), Sol Oriens (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.The post Masquerade Ball Makes Top-Flight Breakthrough in Tenno Sho appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.