2005 News
November 27, 2005
THE 25TH JAPAN CUP (GI)
Sunday, November 27, 2005
RESULT OF THE 25TH JAPAN CUP (GI)
This year's JAPAN CUP welcomed six foreign contenders-BAGO from France, ALKAASED, OUIJA BOARD and WARRSAN from the U.K., and BETTER TALK NOW and KING'S DRAMA from the U.S.
U.S.-bred British raider ALKAASED partnered with Lanfranco Dettori claimed the 25th running of the JAPAN CUP in a record time of 2:22.1 which renewed the 1989 record set by HORLICKS (New Zealand), after a neck-to-neck rally, beating second favorite HEART'S CRY by a nose, with defending champion ZENNO ROB ROY following in third.
The field of 18 broke well with '03 Japan Cup winner TAP DANCE CITY saving ground to set a fast pace. L. Dettori settled ALKAASED in midfield along the rail just off the pace with race favorite ZENNO ROB ROY ridden by K. Desormeaux following behind on the outside. C. Lemaire on board HEART'S CRY traveled another three horses behind.
Swinging for home, L. Dettori steered ALKAASED between horses and overtook the front around the 200-meter line and accelerated toward the goal. Making a late charge from the inside, HEART'S Cry responded well to C. Lemaire's urging and showed a strong closing finish to a nose second behind the British raider. ZENNO ROB ROY, swinging wide around the final turn, took the front at one point in the upper-stretch but lacked the final kick, falling back to a 1-3/4 length third. "It's like a dream to be able to win the Japan Cup for the third time. It was a close win but a win is a win. Japan Arigato (thank you)!" rejoiced L. Dettori.
Fifth favorite OUIJA BOARD partnered with Kieren Fallon settled in midfield, edged forward through the last two corners to 4th place and held on well in the homestretch despite being bumped. "We made a move a bit early but it was a good race. She had more to give in the previous Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf but I think she ran really well among first-class horses," commented K. Fallon.
Sixth pick BAGO with Thierry Gillet traveled 2 wide in midfield, slightly improved position in the last stretch but never reached contention. T. Gillet commented, "the colt was bumped and hurt his left hind."
Ramon Dominguez settled 11th choice BETTER TALK NOW in the rear pack and was one paced at the stretch. "I concentrated on relaxing the horse during the trip. I thought he could give more at the stretch but it didn't work out," said R. Dominguez.
Sixteenth favorite WARRSAN mounted by James Spencer hugged the rail in mid-pack, fell back after the third corner and faded to 13th. "The horse was in good condition but he came up empty after the last corner," reflected J. Spencer.
Thirteenth pick KING'S DRAMA mounted by Edgar Prado settled in good position in 6th place but tired in the homestretch. E. Prado commented, "I was able to place him in good position as planned, but he had nothing left in the last stretch. I think the distance was a bit too long for the bay."
5 LINCOLN- rated in midfield by rail, rallied well in homestretch to finish 4th.
13 SUNRISE PEGASUS- settled 4th from rear, turned wide, accelerated to 6th.
10 HEAVENLY ROMANCE- traveled wide in midfield, held on well to finish 7th.
17 SUZUKA MAMBO- trailed 2nd from last, improved position in stretch.
2 TAP DANCE CITY- set fast pace until 200 meters out, tired in the last furlong.
4 ADMIRE JAPAN- saved ground, settling 5th position, even paced in stretch.
11 COSMO BULK- settled 4th from front, flattened in stretch.
1 MY SOLE SOUND- trailed throughout, never a contender
18 BIG GOLD- ran off the pace in 3rd, weakened in stretch.
9 STORMY CAFE- stalked frontrunner until upper-stretch, faded to last in stretch.
