Run 28th November at Tokyo Racecourse on turf over 2400m.
View FINAL FIELD ....
View Previous years results ....
This year's running has a large contingent of group/grade 1
winners from overseas. The likely favourite will be MONTJEU,
who is already being hailed a great horse after beating a
high-class field in the "Arc". He is again partnered by
Michael Kinane, who won the Japan Cup in 1997 on the
brilliant Pilsudski. The going will be an important consideration
for him as he seems to prefer it on the soft side. The track condition
for this event is usually firm.
The only horse who finished in the first 3 last year, back to try and win
this year is SPECIAL WEEK , who is a previous Japanese Derby winner.
He will being trying to give his champion sire, Sunday Silence, his first
Japan Cup winner.
Another overseas raider with excellent credentials is the lightly raced
Alzao filly, ALBORADA. She is a dual winner of the Champion Stakes (group 1)
and last time out beat High-Rise easily. She is an extremely talented
filly who has so far only run twice this season.
FRUITS OF LOVE was very impressive when beating
Royal Anthem at Royal Ascot this year and were he to run to his
best form would be a big danger.
HIGH-RISE has been something of a disappointment since winning the Derby
and finishing second to the top-class Swain, but he hasn't always had the
best of luck. He will have to improve on his recent form, but he does come
from the most dominant yard in the world (Godolphin).He likes firm going
and should he show his best form for a change, he will be hard to beat.
TIGER HILL is a high class and consistent German contender. He is a multiple
group 1 winner and was placed in last year's "Arc". He was just off the placings
this year. He was well beaten by Montjeu , but the ground that day was shocking
and he might not have cared for it.
BORGIA has been a consistently classy and yet slightly unlucky filly throughout her
career.
She won the German Derby at three and was placed behind one of the best horses
of the decade in Peintre Celebre in his "Arc". She was unlucky when 1 length
behind multiple grade 1 winner Soaring Softly in this year's Breeders' Cup .
She was well held in this year "Arc" but at her previous start was narrowly
beaten by last year's Japan Cup winner El Condor Pasa.
If Borgia runs to her best, she will be right there at the finish. Rascal Suzuka
was third in the Japanese St Leger and is well bred (he is by English and
Irish Derby winner Commander In Chief and his second dam produced
Derby winner Benny The Dip).
RASCAL SUZUKA was beaten a neck by classic winner T.M. Opera O in the
St Leger. In the Kobe Shimbun Hai (group 2) he was well beaten by Osumi Bright
whom he meets again here.
OSUMI BRIGHT is a son of Last Tycoon who was a narrow second in the Japanese 2000
Guineas.
He was well beaten in the Derby but bounced back to win his last start.
There is a line through multiple group 1 winner EL CONDOR PASA, who won this
Japanese Cup last year, which suggests
Montjeu should win, barring accident or interference. If he does he will provide
several "firsts". He'll be his outstanding sire (Sadler's Wells) first Japan Cup winner
Two grandsons of Sadler's Wells have won it (Singspiel and the previously mentioned
El Condor Pasa). He'll also be the first "Arc" winner to go on to win this race.
Clearly on form, he rates the one to beat. Like all the foreign raiders he had the disadvantage
of having to travel half-way round the globe, and the home course advantage
enjoyed by the locally trained horses must never be underestimated.