KYOTO -- Meisho Samson, last year's 2000 Guineas and Derby winner, dug deep into his reserves at Kyoto racecourse on Sunday to lift the 135th Tennosho (Emperor's Cup) and prove to his doubters that he really is top class and can race 3,200 meters.

News photoJockey Mamoru Ishibashi acknowledges the fans after his Meisho Samson won the spring Tennosho on Sunday at Kyoto Rececourse. KYODO PHOTO

After last year's defeat in the final leg of the Triple Crown, some were beginning to write him off, but Sunday he showed that with a bit of pace, he's as good as any horse over this distance.