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JAPAN CUP 2009 and JAPAN CUP DIRT 2009

- 1st Edition -

Held together on the same weekend as the "Japan Cup Weekend" for eight years, the Japan Cup and the Japan Cup Dirt underwent a major change last year and are now held a week apart at two different tracks. Under the new scheme, the Japan Cup takes place at the left-handed Tokyo Racecourse on the last Sunday of November while the Japan Cup Dirt takes place on the following Sunday at the right-handed Hanshin Racecourse in western Japan.

This newsletter introduces you to the key runners from last year's Japan Cup and Japan Cup Dirt as well as their performances up until this season.

2009 Japan Cup Preview
- Status of last year's field -

2008 Japan Cup

The champion Screen Hero (JPN, h5, by Grass Wonder) went to post as the ninth choice in the 2008 Japan Cup, after winning the Copa Republica Argentina (2,500m) with the advantage of 53 kg-handicap. During the Japan Cup race, the Italian jockey, Mirco Demuro, gave Screen Hero a perfect trip, placing him near the leaders in the early stages and held off his rivals as he made headway soon after the final turn. Screen Hero had won this striking victory at his first G1 attempt. He became the third favorite in the following start - the Arima Kinen (G1, 2,500m) - but lost his engine at the stretch and faded to fifth, 3 lengths behind the race favorite Daiwa Scarlet (JPN, m5, by Agnes Tachyon), who maintained the lead form wire to wire. Screen Hero kicked off his 2009 campaign with the Hanshin Daishoten (G2, 3,000m) in March, followed by two G1 starts, the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) in May and the Takarazuka Kinen (G1, 2,200m) in June. In the Hanshin Daishoten, however, the burden of 59 kilos and the yielding track conditions caused Screen Hero to underperform and led him to finish fourth. He was heavily beaten to 14th in the Tenno Sho (Spring) due to fatigue from his previous start, then capped off his spring stint with a fifth place in the Takarazuka Kinen. His plans for the latter half of his five-year-old season include the Japan Cup after running in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m).

Deep Sky (JPN, c4, by Agnes Tachyon), who finished second in the 2008 Japan Cup, kicked off this season with a runner-up in the Sankei Osaka Hai (G2, 2,000m), another second place in the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) and a third in the Takarazuka Kinen. He then headed off to a planned summer break in Hokkaido but later during training was discovered to have bowed tendon. On August 19, his connections announced his retirement from racing. He will enter a new phase of his career as stud at the Darley Stallion Complex beginning next year.

Vodka (JPN, m5, by Tanino Gimlet) is still going strong this season. After sufficient rest following her third place finish in the 2008 Japan Cup, Vodka flew to Dubai in January to prepare for her second overseas challenge in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE, G1, 1,777m). She finished fifth in the Jebel Hatta (G2, 1,777m) and a disappointing seventh in Dubai Duty Free. Beaten again to 9 lengths behind the champion Gladiatorus (USA, c4, by Silic), Vodka was unable to avenge her defeat in 2008 (4th). Although her overseas performances appear to be a little below expectations, her next two starts in Japan have been impressive with immediate success in the Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m), in which she won by an overwhelming 7 lengths. Her next victory was in the Yasuda Kinen, where she held off a mixed field of world-class milers including Deep Sky, despite meeting traffic on the way up the stretch. This added another G1 victory and extended her winning streak to six. This not only aptly demonstrated her suitability to the Tokyo Racecourse track, but also confirmed that this Tanino Gimlet mare is competitive against G1-caliber mounts of the opposite gender. Victory in the Yasuda Kinen for the second time this year has made her the JRA's record holder to claim the most G1 titles (six) among her gender. Her career earnings also surpassed 1 billion yen and Vodka became the first filly or mare to ever reach that amount. In her first start of the fall campaign, the Mainichi Okan (G2, 1,800m), she made the pace up to the stretch but was caught in the final stages by Company (JPN, h8, by Miracle Admire), who outran her by 1 length and won the race. Her plans for this fall will be as same as the last year, the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and then the Japan Cup.

Matsurida Gogh (JPN, h6, by Sunday Silence) who finished fourth last year, is scheduled to run the Tenno Sho (Autumn) but opted to pass up the Japan Cup in order to focus on the Arima Kinen, which will be held at his favorite track at Nakayama.

Fifth place finisher, Oken Bruce Lee (JPN, c4, by Jungle Pocket) was given some time off following the 2008 Japan Cup and resumed racing in March. He finished seventh in the Hanshin Daishoten but has been laid off again until October. He had shown good form in the Kyoto Daishoten (G2, 2,400m), sweeping past the rivals from racing behind and claimed him a first victory in nearly 12 months. Undoubtedly, he will draw much attention in the upcoming starts - the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Japan Cup.

Among the runners who finished sixth or worse last year, Meisho Samson (JPN, h6, by Opera House; 6th) proceeded to the Arima Kinen and retired from racing shortly thereafter. Never Bouchon (JPN, h6, by Marvelous Sunday; 7th) is currently away from racing. Asakusa Kings (JPN, h5, by White Muzzle; 8th) won two G2 events in a row - the Kyoto Kinen (G2, 2,200m) and the Hanshin Daishoten. Sent to post as the favorite in the Tenno Sho (Spring), he was unable to respond and defeated to ninth. After a little rest, he is now back in training and ready to make a comeback starting with the upcoming Tenno Sho (Autumn). Cosmo Bulk (JPN, h8, by Zagreb; 17th) who finished last of 18, is aiming to run the Japan Cup again for six consecutive years this year.

2009 Japan Cup Dirt Preview
- Status of last year's horses -

2008 Japan Cup Dirt

While the top five finishers were dominated by the older generations - first to fourth by six-year-olds and the fifth by an eight-year-old -, young talents have begun to surface in the past year and we may see a major change in the lineup for this year's Japan Cup Dirt. The 2008 Japan Cup Dirt champion, Kane Hekili (JPN, h7, by Fuji Kiseki) scored two more top class race wins in the Tokyo Daishoten (dirt 2,000m) and the Kawasaki Kinen (dirt 2,100m). He went to post as the favorite in the February Stakes (G1, dirt 1,600m) but yielded the lead to two up-and-coming four-year-olds and finished third. Kane Hekili was beaten again, this time by Espoir City, and finished second in the Kashiwa Kinen (dirt 1,600m). Soon after the race, he was diagnosed with a fracture in his left foreleg and has been sidelined ever since. The chances of his reappearance in this year's Japan Cup Dirt are slim.

The runner-up of last year's Japan Cup Dirt, Meisho Tokon (JPN, h7, Mayano Top Gun) was winless in his next five starts - a second, a third and three 8th-place finishes. Although he managed to maintain his form in the Nagoya Grand Prix (dirt 2,500m) in December and the Nagoya Daishoten (dirt 1,900m) in March, performances were poor in his most recent three starts. Refreshed and back in training after taking a break since July, Meisho Tokon is scheduled to run the JBC Classic (dirt 1,900m) in Nagoya.

Vermilion (JPN, h7, by El Condor Pasa; 3rd), who still proves to be strong in his seven-year-old season, finished second to Kane Hekili in the Tokyo Daishoten, following the 2008 Japan Cup Dirt. Vermilion has been consistent throughout the season. Even with a disappointing sixth in the February Stakes, he quickly recovered and won the next Teio Sho (dirt 2,000m) by a comfortable margin. He seeks to win the Japan Cup Dirt for the second time since 2007.

Sunrise Bacchus (JPN, h7, by Hennessy; 4th) has been struggling since the beginning of the 2009 season, finishing at 8th, 15th, 6th and 12th. He developed a sand crack in September and is currently on the disabled list.

Blue Concorde (JPN, h9, by Fusaichi Concorde; 5th) finished fourth in both the Tokyo Daishoten and the Kawasaki Kinen, before being turned out for eight and a half months. He resumed his fall campaign at the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (dirt 1,600m), seeking to defend his title for a third time, but lost fifth to Espoir City by 2 seconds.

Casino Drive (USA, c4, by Mineshaft; 6th) kicked off this season with a win in an allowance race and a second in the February Stakes. He then flew to Dubai to compete in the Dubai World Cup (G1, dirt 2,000m) but finished eighth. A bowed tendon was discovered shortly after, taking him out from racing for a while. Success Brocken (JPN, c4, by Symboli Kris S; 8th) finished third in both the Tokyo Daishoten and the Kawasaki Kinen and then claimed the season's first G1 title in the February Stakes, holding off Casino Drive by a neck. Finishing second in the Mile Championship Nambu Hai, Success Brocken is now setting eyes on the Japan Cup Dirt after the JBC Classic.

Probable newcomers for this year's Japan Cup Dirt will include Espoir City (JPN, c4, by Gold Allure), who has already beaten proven G1 winners, Kane Hekili and Success Brocken this season. Two gifted three-year-olds Wonder Acute (JPN, c3, by Charismatic) and Testa Matta (JPN, c3, by Tapit) are also regarded as the potential candidates to take over the key role in this year's Japan Cup Dirt.