Deep-blue, post-typhoon skies and a rare late-afternoon appearance by Mount Fuji set the stage for the 136th running of the Emperor's Cup Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse. With the day's uncommon beauty came an uncommon show of strength as race favorite Meisho Samson reigned supreme in a star-studded lineup of 16 that included six group 1 winners, four-time group 1 winner Daiwa Major and Melbourne Cup champ Pop Rock.
Favorite Meisho Samson, ridden by jockey Yutaka Take, wins his second Emperor's Cup of 2007 on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse before a crowd of more than 100,000 spectators.
KYODO PHOTONone of the other heavies, however, could match Meisho Samson, as he gained the top early in the stretch and remained unchallenged to the end, trouncing all by 2 1/2 lengths. The win gave Samson his fourth top-level victory and the claim of being only the fourth horse in the race's history to win both the marathon-length spring version and the shorter fall version in the same year.