Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (G1) - Prix de l'Opera winner Shalanaya arrives in Japan

Shalanaya (c)JRA

Prix de l'Opera winner Shalanaya arrived in Japan on Thursday evening (Nov. 5) in good spirits as trainer Mikel Delzangles' filly readies for the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup next week at Kyoto Racecourse.

The Irish bred touched down at Kansai international airport on Thursday from France via Frankfurt, completing travel that required a total of 28 hours before reaching Miki Horseland Park in Hyogo Prefecture at 11:30 p.m..

Jacques Leroux said the 3-year-old Shalanaya turned out to be a good first-time traveler.

"It was her first time traveling abroad by air, but the horse handled it well and there were no complications whatsoever," the groom said. "She's in extremely good condition."

Shalanaya, 3-for-5 back in France and is coming off victory by a length and a half in the 2,200-meter Prix de l'Opera at Longchamps, is the only foreign entry for the 34th Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup on Nov. 15.

The daughter of Lomitas will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who won the race last year aboard fourth choice Little Amapola. Shalanaya got her first work in on Japanese soil on Friday morning, putting in 20 minutes on the dirt under exercise rider Jimmy Simon, pleasing Leroux with the session under clear skies.

The horse weighed 417 kilograms after training, which will make her one of the lightest in a maximum field of 18 for the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup.

"She went out on the course for her first time today, and she seemed to like it," he said. "I don't know much about Japanese racing, but the jockey knows it very well and we're absolutely confident in the horse's ability.

"We are, however, taking it one step at a time because this is her first time overseas."

Shalanaya is also eligible for the Japan Autumn International bonus after winning the Prix de l'Opera. Should she win the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, she can net an additional 90 million yen on top of the 90 million yen awarded to the winner. Finishing runnerup will win her an extra 36 million yen, finishing third 22.5 million yen.

No horse from overseas has yet to win the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, the previous highest finish being third by 4-year-old Tigertail in 2003 who was also from France.