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Sunday’s 2018 Tenno Sho Autumn in Tokyo on has drawn a field of 13 horses and includes two old rivals seeking supremacy in one of Japan’s great staying tests.

It is 17 months since Rey De Oro held Suave Richard by three quarters of a length in the 2017 G1 Tokyo Yushun, the Japanese Derby.

Rey De Oro went on to run second in last year’s G1 Japan Cup and was fourth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic before returning from a lay-off with a G2 victory at Nakayama last month.

Meanwhile Suave Richard finished fourth in the Arima Kinen last December before winning his first two races this year, including a breakthrough G1 win in the Osaka Hai.

Last time out he finished third in the G1 Yasuda Kinen over a mile in June.

The Tenno Sho Autumn will be their first meeting sicne the Derby.

Suave Richard worked under race jockey Mirco Demuro this week along with two other horses and was allowed to run at his own pace, clocking 98.1 seconds over 1400m with the final 600m in 37.7 seconds.

His rhythm was good and he quickened spectacularly over the final 200m in 11.7 seconds.

The four-year-old son of Heart’s Cry has a good first up record and looks in perfect shape for his return.

“I put the other two horses in front of him so he wouldn’t go too fast,” said trainer Yasushi Shono.

“I’d say he’s at a perfect place going into the race. He really likes the Tokyo course and he’s very adept over 2000m.”

Rey De Oro had a lead-up race late last month in the G2 All Comers (2200m). He beat Al Ain by a neck and was given time off to refresh before returning to Miho on October 11.

Christophe Lemaire rode Rey De Oro in his work on the flat this week with a work partner.

He ran smoothly and moved inside while a length behind the other horse at the furlong pole. He then responded well for Lemaire and finished ahead by half a length in 68 seconds over 1000m with a final 200m of 12.6 seconds.

Trainer Kazuo Fujisawa said that the colt is best suited to racing over Tokyo’s 2000m.

They will meet Makahiki, the 2016 Japanese Derby winner who finished fifth in last year’s Tenno Sho Autumn and fourth in the G1 Japan Cup.

The son of Deep Impact was following a fracture and only returned to the track in August with a fine effort by the five-year-old to finish second by a nose in the G2 Sapporo Kinen (2000m).

Yutaka Take, who recently surpassed 4000 JRA wins including 14 victories across the two editions of the Tenno Sho (eight in the Spring and six in the Autumn), will be Makahiki’s new partner on Sunday.

Makahiki’s final workout on Wednesday was a breeze up the hill course at Miho under a stable rider.

“Last week when Yutaka Take rode him you could see that they were working as one,” said trainer Yasuo Tomomichi.

“His breathing and his muscle tone are perfect so this week I just breezed him and he went up the hill with ease.

Other stars in the line-up include last year’s G1 Satsuki Sho hero Al Ain, G1 Takarazuka Kinen winner Mikki Rocket, 2017 Kikuka Sho winner Kiseki and this year’s Dubai Turf second Vivlos.