The 10th Japan Cup Dirt - Handicapper's Report on the Japanese Contenders

The Japan Cup Dirt race day was altered since last year-from the Saturday before the Japan Cup to the Sunday a week after-to make it easier for those running in the Breeders' Cup to add the Japan Cup Dirt into their agenda. The distance and racecourse was also altered from 2,100 meters at Tokyo to 1,800 meters at Hanshin Racecourse.

Looking back at the past nine Japan Cup Dirt races, five and six-year-olds have been the majority of winners while three out of nine have been won by three-year-olds. The younger generation has been especially impressive on dirt races during the 2009 season, and is predicted to have a good chance of capturing the title this year.

The following are the key runners from the Japanese field:

Wonder Acute Wonder Acute (JPN, c3, by Charismatic; Rating=112M) has made a rapid improvement this fall, holding off this year's February Stakes (G1, dirt 1,600m) winner, Success Brocken and other top-grade runners to a runaway win in the 1,600-meter Musashino Stakes (G3, dirt 1,600m). Coming off a three-race winning streak-his first two wins before the Musashino Stakes were both won by a comfortable margin at Hanshin Racecourse-his aptitude for the Hanshin track along with his dominance as a pacesetter as well as his finishing speed is well proven.

Silk Mobius Silk Mobius (JPN, c3, by Stay Gold; Rating=109M) is also among the prominent three-year-old group with a grade-race title in the Unicorn Stakes (G3, dirt 1,600m) and a runner-up effort in the Japan Dirt Derby (dirt 2,000m). He demonstrated a powerful charge from behind in the Topaz Stakes (dirt 1,800m), overtaking the frontrunners who tired from a solid pace, and drew off to an overwhelming 5-length victory. This year's race will feature a strong line-up of frontrunners, which may work to his advantage depending on the race development.

Espoir City Espoir City (JPN, c4, by Gold Allure; Rating=117M) is the first in line among the older generation. Coming off three consecutive grade-race wins into this coming race, Espoir City demonstrated his superiority over last year's Japan Cup Dirt winner Kane Hekili in the Kashiwa Kinen (dirt 1,600m), and won over Success Brocken by 4 lengths in his latest start, the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (dirt 1600m). He is a versatile runner who can run in front or in mid-field depending on the race.

Vermilion Vermilion (JPN, h7, by El Condor Pasa; Rating=118M) set a new JRA record by capturing eight career G1 (International and Japanese G1) victories when winning the JBC Classic (dirt 1,900m) this season. Although his powerful kick that carries him to the lead from mid-field remains effective in his seven-year-old campaign, past Japan Cup Dirt history shows that the coming race is a tough race to win for veteran runners.

Success Brocken Another horse worth noting would be Success Brocken (JPN, c4, by Symboli Kris S; Rating=118M). His 59-kilo weight did not help when defeated in his latest start in the Musashino Stakes, but the son of Symboli Kris S is determined to repeat his success in his spring campaign when he won the February Stakes.

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