Who Is Danon Decile? The 'Very Very Horse' Who Won the Tenno Sho

Who is Danon Decile?

Danon Decile is a five-year-old Japanese Thoroughbred who won the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo on Sunday, November 1, 2026. He is also the 2024 Japanese Derby and 2025 Dubai Sheema Classic winner, and the horse behind racing's friendliest catchphrase: "Very very horse!"

Ridden by Keita Tosaki and trained by Shogo Yasuda, he came from near the back of the field to win going away. If you know the phrase but not the horse, here is the short version.

• Foaled: April 6, 2021, in Hokkaido, Japan
• Color: chestnut
• Sire and dam: by Epiphaneia, out of Top Decile, a daughter of Congrats
• Owner: Danox
• Breeder: Shadai Farm
• Trainer: Shogo Yasuda, based at Ritto
• Grade 1 wins: three

His sire Epiphaneia won the 2013 Kikuka Sho (Japan's St Leger) and the 2014 Japan Cup. So Danon Decile comes from a horse who also stayed well and peaked at the top level in Tokyo.

How he won the Tenno Sho Autumn 2026

The draw looked like the first problem. Danon Decile got gate 17, the widest spot in a 17-runner field, and Tosaki admitted he was surprised when he saw it.

The widest gate usually means covering extra ground or dropping back to find cover. Tosaki chose not to fight it. Because the horse's best weapon is his late speed, he skipped any fixed position and rode for rhythm instead.

The Racing Post reported that the pair were only one off last turning into the straight. Danon Decile then charged down the center of the track, hit the front at the furlong pole and drew clear.

The big names had a rough day:

• Croix Du Nord, the favorite, finished fifth. His rider, Cristian Demuro, said he was tight for room in the straight and slow to respond after a layoff.
• Masquerade Ball, the defending champion, stumbled at the start and finished 11th. Christophe Lemaire said he lost a good position, then met traffic in the straight.

There was a neat twist in third place. Tosaki won the 2024 Arima Kinen on Regaleira, then had to choose between her and Danon Decile for the 2025 running. He called it a tough decision and picked Danon Decile.

The win also gave Tosaki his first Tenno Sho of any kind, spring or autumn, according to the JRA.

What does "very very horse" mean?

It means "a very good horse", minus the most important word. After winning the Dubai Sheema Classic in April 2025, an overjoyed Tosaki skipped the translator standing nearby and tried English himself, and the word "good" went missing.

He has said he doesn't speak English, and that he thought he had got it right until a Japanese reporter told him the line was taking off. The clip spread fast on X, and fans loved it because it sounded like pure happiness. The phrase even says something true: this horse is so much a horse that no adjective was needed.

The nicest part is that Tosaki owns the joke.

• After the Tokyo win he said, "Once again, I want to say 'Very very horse!'"
• In September 2026 he won the Korea Sprint in Seoul and opened his interview with "Very Very Mal", using the Korean word for horse.
• The JRA's own account used the nickname when it announced Sunday's result, and his trainer tagged a thank-you post to fans with it.

For anyone learning a language, it's a lovely little lesson. Tosaki took a risk in front of the world, and the mistake became the thing people love about him.

Danon Decile's career so far

He has six wins, and his best days have been big ones. His road has also had plenty of near misses.

Grade 1 wins

• Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), May 26, 2024. Ridden by Norihiro Yokoyama, then 56, he beat the favorite Justin Milano by two lengths as a long shot. He had been scratched from the Satsuki Sho just before the race with lameness in his right foreleg, which made the comeback sweeter. It was Yasuda's first JRA Grade 1.
• Dubai Sheema Classic, April 5, 2025. He ran down Calandagan at Meydan to win by 1¼ lengths. Tosaki has called it the horse's best race and a ride he will never forget.
• Tenno Sho (Autumn), November 1, 2026. The first Grade 1 win of his five-year-old season.

Grade 1 third places

• 2024 Arima Kinen
• 2025 Japan Cup
• 2025 Arima Kinen
• 2026 Osaka Hai
• 2026 Takarazuka Kinen

The last four came in a row, which is why many fans felt he was overdue. Tosaki has also said the horse's talent is huge but that he can be mentally immature, with tail swishing and other distractions during races. Sunday looked like the version of him people had been waiting for.

He also won two lesser graded races: the Keisei Hai in 2024 and the American Jockey Club Cup in 2025.

What is the Tenno Sho, and why does it run in spring and autumn?

Tenno Sho means "Emperor's Prize", and it is one of Japan's most prestigious titles. It is really two races a year, and the winner of each receives an Imperial prize.

The roots go back to "The Emperor's Cup", first held in 1905. According to the JRA, the spring and autumn races were set up in 1937 under the name Teishitsu Goshoten Kyoso, and were held twice a year in the eastern and western parts of Japan. The name Tenno Sho became official in 1947.

Both races began at 3,200 meters, which is about two miles. In 1984 the autumn race was cut to 2,000 meters.

The autumn race opened to foreign horses in 2005. It also gives top three-year-olds who may not want the 3,000 meters of the Kikuka Sho another major autumn target. It's weight-for-age, so older males carry 58 kg, and younger horses and fillies and mares get allowances.

The race record is 1:55.2, set by Equinox in 2023. New to the terms? Our guide to what a Grade 1 race is explains how the top level works around the world.

How to watch a closer like Danon Decile

A horse who comes from behind is called a closer, and they are the most fun to follow if you're new to racing. Try this on the replay:

1. Find him early. Look for the horse near the back, and don't panic. Being last on the first turn doesn't mean he's losing.
2. Watch the jockey's hands. A jockey who is sitting quietly still has horse left.
3. Notice the path. Closers often swing wide for a clear run, as he did at Tokyo.
4. Listen to the announcer in the straight. Tokyo's long final stretch gives late runners time, so the race can change fast.

If you first met Japanese racing through Uma Musume Pretty Derby, this is a good real-life race to start with. You can browse more racing terms in our glossary.

What to watch next

No next start has been announced. Yasuda's post after the race thanked fans without naming one, and Tosaki said only that he wants to keep the horse running at this level.

The Japan Cup is one of the big races still ahead on Japan's calendar, but don't assume he's going. Wait for the stable or the JRA before you believe any race plan you see on social media.

Here's what to keep an eye on:

• An official plan from Yasuda's stable or the JRA
• Who rides. Tosaki has been his partner since 2025, though Ryusei Sakai rode him in the 2026 Osaka Hai
• The next interview. Another "very very" feels likely, and very welcome

For more of the stories behind the headlines, visit our trends page.