The 29th Japan Cup - Handicapper's Report on the Japanese Contenders

The Japan Cup titles have been equally split between Japan and the foreign contenders during the past 28 years, but eight of ten recent Japan Cups (three consecutive in the past three) have been won by our home-trained runners.

While the foreign contenders are having a tough time to conquer the Japanese field, this year's invitees include one of the most powerful challengers yet - winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) and two-time Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) title holder, Conduit (IRE).

The Japanese contestants who will be facing this world-class turf champion include defending Japan Cup title holder Screen Hero as well as some of the season's best three-year-old colts and fillies, which will no doubt add much excitement to the race.

The following are the key runners who will be running from Japan.

Vodka Vodka (JPN, m5, by Tanino Gimlet; Rating=120M), JRA's 2008 Horse of the Year, continues strongly this season, winning the Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) and the Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m). Her ability to perform to her best at Tokyo Racecourse is especially evident from her five G1 titles which have been won there, and the chances of the Tanino Gimlet mare winning the title in her third Japan Cup attempt, since finishing third last year and fourth in 2007, are high. It will also be interesting to see how she will fare with a rider change to Christophe Lemaire.

Screen Hero Screen Hero (JPN, h5, by Grass Wonder; Rating=122L) is back to defend his Japan Cup title. Though winless in his five starts since then, the five-year-old chestnut has proved himself well up to the competition, beating Vodka for second in his last start, the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m). Like Vodka, his high aptitude for racing at Tokyo Racecourse is evident as seen in his win in the Japan Cup last year as well as his runner-up effort in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).

Oken Bruce Lee Next in line after the two prominent five-year-olds is Oken Bruce Lee (JPN, c4, by Jungle Pocket; Rating=119L) who, after winning the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, 3,000m) in just six months since his debut - shortest on the JRA record - finished a good fifth in his first challenge against top G1 winners of the older generation in the 2008 Japan Cup. Best at distances of 1-1/2 mile and over, the Jungle Pocket colt is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), which was shorter than his ideal distance. His sire is the winner of the 2001 Japan Cup, while his grand-sire Tony Bin also ran in the race in 1988 (fifth).

Logi Universe The leader of the three-year-old colt group would be Logi Universe (JPN, by Neo Universe; Rating=118L), victor of this year's Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2,400m). Nine derby winners have run in the Japan Cup during their sophomore season in the past but only Jungle Pocket has succeeded in beating the older group. Among the others that have challenged the title as a three-year-old, El Condor Pasa (1998) is the lone winner among the Japanese-trained contestants, proving that the Japan Cup is a tough race to win for three-year-olds. While the Japan Cup will be his first challenge against world-class caliber and his first start in six months since the derby, the young talent who has won five out of six career starts has yet to show his true ability.

Red Desire Representing the three-year-old fillies is Red Desire (JPN, by Manhattan Cafe: Rating=113I), a gifted bay with a bold frame who is coming off her first G1victory in the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m), which denied Buena Vista - victress of both the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, 1,600m) and the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, 2,400m) - of her Triple Crown title for three-year-old fillies in the final leg of the series. It will be the first Japan Cup challenge for Mikio Matsunaga as a trainer, while he rode Fabulous la Fouine to second place (top place for a three-year-old filly) in the 1996 Japan Cup.

* Japan Cup (G1) -Nominated Horse International Ratings (PDF)