Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (G1) - Preview (1)

2008 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup

The Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, to be held for the 34th time on Nov. 15 at Kyoto Racecourse, traces its origin to the Victoria Cup, which was founded in 1970 as the final race of the 3-year-old fillies' Triple Crown and run over 2,400 meters at Kyoto. Following Queen Elizabeth's visit to Japan in 1975, the race was relaunched in 1976 under its current name.

In 1996, the distance was shortened to 2,200 meters and entries were now being accepted for all females over three. Since the addition of the Shuka Sho (3-year-old fillies only, 2,000 meters, Kyoto) to the fixtures in mid-October that year, the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup has been the place where the top 3-year-old fillies in the country take their first shot at the older female horses.

It was opened up to as many as five foreign horses in 1999 and as of 2000, Grade 1 winners qualified automatically. A maximum of nine entries from abroad have been accepted since 2007 alongside Japan's promotion to a Part I Country of the International Cataloguing Standards. This year, Prix de l'Opera champion Shalanaya has thrown her hat into the ring.

Set to become just the seventh overseas horse to run in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup since its internationalization, the 3-year-old Shalanaya will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire who won last year aboard Little Amapola.

The Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup is also the opening act of the Japan Autumn International, the Japan Racing Association's one-year-old series featuring four Grade 1 races on consecutive weekends with combined prize money of more than 1.2 billion yen. Rounding out the Japan Autumn International in order are the Mile Championship (1,600 meters, Kyoto), the Japan Cup (2,400 meters, Tokyo) and the Japan Cup Dirt (1,800 meters, Hanshin), which highlights the World Super Jockeys Series. A new bonus system could net the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup a maximum of 90 million yen.

The barriers are set on the home straight of the outer oval at Kyoto, which runs for 400 meters before reaching the first turn. A gradual rise of four meters from the 1,200-meter post to the 800-meter post descends toward the final bend, inviting the last 300 meters to the wire.

Weights are set at 54 kilograms for 3-year-olds, 56 kg for 4-year-olds & up. The winner of a full field of 18 will receive 90 million yen.