Last year’s Japan Cup was won by Japan’s ace runner, Deep Impact (JPN, by Sunday Silence), who bounced back from being beaten and disqualified in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, FRA) and became an undisputed champion over the G1 field that included top European mare, Ouija Board (GB).
This year’s field includes five top quality runners from overseas—among them will be Dylan Thomas (IRE, 4c, by Danehill) who became the first horse since Lammtarra in 1995 to capture both the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1, GB) and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the same season. The Danehill colt also was named Cartier Horse of the Year and top older horse at the 2007 Cartier Racing Awards. Meanwhile, Japanese contenders including Meisho Samson (JPN),who won both the Tenno Sho (G1) Spring and the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) this year, and Admire Moon (JPN), winner of the Dubai Duty Free (G1) this March, should add to the excitement of the race while other strong candidates will also make a bid for the big title. Here are some of the horses to watch.
Beginning with the older starters (four-year-olds and up), Meisho Samson (JPN, 4c, by Opera House, rating: 122I), who captured two legs of the three-year-old Triple Crown races; the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), was a disappointing sixth in the last year's Japan Cup. However, the Opera House colt proved stronger in his four-year-old season with three wins and a second out of four starts, which included two G1 titles in the Tenno Sho which positions him as a top class turf middle-distance runner. Though the outbreak of the equine influenza forced him to abandon his overseas challenge in the Arc de Triomphe, he is given the opportunity this time to take on the winner of the race which he missed, Dylan Thomas (IRE).
Admire Moon (JPN, 4c, by End Sweep, rating: 125M/122L), who showed steady progress since the latter half of his three-year-old season, capped off his 2006 campaign with a runner-up effort to Pride (FR) in the Hong Kong Cup (G1) and joined the ranks of a G1 winner in March this year when capturing the Dubai Duty Free (G1). Although out-dueling Meisho Samson (JPN) in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1), he was defeated to sixth place in his last start against the colt after being met with the disadvantage at the stretch. Although the 2,400-meter distance remains an issue, he has proven to handle 2,200 meters winning twice out of as much starts.
Pop Rock (JPN, 6h, by Helissio, rating: 119L), after his runner-up effort in last year’s Melbourne Cup (G1), continued to impress with a second place to Deep Impact (JPN, by Sunday Silence) in the following Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) and is all the more consistent again this season with a third place finish in the Takarazuka Kinen (G1). Well suited to Tokyo Racecourse, Pop Rock will be among the favorites in this race.
Runner-up in last year’s Japan Cup, Dream Passport (JPN, 4c, by Fuji Kiseki, rating: 121L), after finishing second in his kick-off start in the Hanshin Daishoten (G2) and headed for the Tenno Sho Spring (G1), was ruled out of racing with a fracture and the Japan Cup will be his comeback start. Although it will be a lot to ask for a colt that has been away from competing in a race let alone an international G1 for so long, his proven ability is not to be underestimated.
Two horses from the three-year-old group that have each claimed a title in the Triple Crown race have been listed among the nominees for the Japan Cup. Their performances against the older G1 contenders will provide us with an idea of the quality of the three-year-olds compared to the older generation.
Vodka (JPN, 3f, by Tanino Gimlet, rating: 117L) is the first filly in 64 years to beat her male counterparts in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and doing so in 2:24.5, which ranks the second fastest over the 2,400 meter distance on the race record. Competing this time over the same distance and racecourse, she will carry much hope as the strongest three-year-old filly in recent years in the coming race.
Another three-year-old, Victory (JPN, 3c, by Brian’s Time, rating: 114I), captured the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) after racing well up front throughout. However, it is uncertain how he will handle the extra furlongs. The issue will be as to how he will maintain his energy to the end of the race.
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