The Japan Cup Dirt will be held this year without the presence of a foreign contender - the first time since its inaugural running in 2000. Therefore, the race will not serve as a sample of comparing the ability of Japanese runners with our foreign counterparts. However, the race has always succeeded in giving its title to the best horses and the interest lies this year in which horse is worthy of the international GI trophy this year.
First of all, Time Paradox (JPN, 8h, by Brian's Time, rating: 114I), who had been experiencing a downturn during the first half of the 2006 season, was though to have gone over his peak at age eight. However, he proved us wrong, winning the JBC Classic (GI, 2,100m, dirt), a Japanese version of the Breeders' Cup second consecutive year and earning his fifth career GI title. He races either within the pace or in mid-field.
Seeking the Dia (USA, 6h, by Storm Cat, rating: 114I), is still without a GI title though finishing second in eight GI attempts, revealing the fact that though extremely talented and consistent in keeping with the pace, is short of giving that extra effort in the closing stages-A perfect example of this was his runner-up performance in last year's Japan Cup Dirt, in which a little more effort could have reversed the order of finish.
Another consistent dirt runner over 2,000 meters or longer would be Hard Crystal (JPN, 7h, by Crystal Glitters, rating: 110I) - winner of two grade-race titles this year in the Tokai Stakes (GII, 2,300m, dirt) and the Breeders' Gold Cup (GII, 2,300m, dirt)
Vermilion (JPN, 4c, by El Condor Pasa, rating 110L) will start in this race for the first time in six months. However, his dominating victory in the Dio Lite Kinen (GII, 2,400m, dirt) during his spring campaign this year indicates that he is well up to competing in this class.
Among the three-year-old generation, Fusaichi Richard (JPN, 3c, by Kurofune, rating: 108I) switched to dirt racing beginning with the Musashino Stakes (GIII, 1,600m, dirt) like his sire, Kurofune, who won his dirt debut in the same race in record time and the 2001 Japan Cup Dirt champion. Though he finished an unspectacular fifth with a minor disadvantage of having little room to squeeze through in the inside, his blood line tells us that we may be able to expect more from this colt.
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