Snow Fairy, Dancing Rain arrive in Japan for QEII showdown

Snow Fairy

Dancing Rain

Snow Fairy

Dancing Rain

Snow Fairy and Dancing Rain, the two foreign contenders for this year's Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (G1) on Nov. 13, arrived at Japan's Narita International Airport on Monday, Oct. 31 and were transported to their quarantine facilities.

The two U.K.-based fillies touched down shortly after 10 a.m. and were at the JRA Horseracing School Quarantine Center in Shiroi, Chiba Prefecture, before 1 p.m. The two were both reported in good condition, none the worse for wear at the end of the flight from England with a stopover in Amsterdam.

Kathryn Hanna, groom for the 4-year-old Snow Fairy, winner by 4 lengths in last year's QEII, said, "This horse is used to traveling. She was in high spirits right after arriving in Japan." Hanna said the work schedule was still undecided, but said "We won't be taking her onto the track at least tomorrow and the next day."

The 3-year-old Dancing Rain, who claimed both the English and German Oaks this year, also picked up the inaugural running of the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes at Ascot last time out on Oct. 15.

Assistant trainer Maureen Haggas, wife of trainer William, said Dancing Rain had lost a bit of weight during the journey. "It's nothing to worry about though," Haggas assured. "We plan to go easy at the Racing School, as we have the long trip to Kyoto ahead of us. The main training will be done after we move to Kyoto Racecourse."

Both horses will have five days of quarantine in eastern Japan before moving westward.

The Irish-bred Snow Fairy, also a double Oaks winner, albeit in England and Ireland, is by Intikhab, out of the Charnwood Forest mare Woodland Dream, and is now 6 for 18 with four seconds. She ran third in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last time out, paired with Olivier Peslier, and before that, third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe under Lanfranco Dettori.

After her win of the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup last year, Snow Fairy, went on to win at Sha Tin in the Hong Kong Cup. After that race, she sat the next seven months out, returning in July for her first race of five this year. She has failed to win this year but has not been far off the mark, with only one race out of the money.

Snow Fairy, owned by Anamoine Ltd., will again be ridden by Ryan Moore, 28, who rode her in last year's Queen Elizabeth and to both of her wins of the Irish and English Oaks last year. The bay Snow Fairy is trained by the 43-year-old Edward Dunlop, son of the celebrated Arundel trainer John Dunlop. The younger Dunlop is enjoying a good year after a three-year slight slump. He has had 52 wins and 43 seconds out of 369 races (GB flat race) so far this year. Dunlop, who opened his stable in 1994, said plans were always to race Snow Fairy in Japan again to defend her title, but acknowledges the very tough competition this year. Of Dancing Rain Dunlop said, "she is a very smart 3-year-old."

The Irish-bred Dancing Rain, by Danehill Dancer out of the Indian Ridge mare, Rain Flower, is currently 4 for 7 with two seconds. She is trained by William Haggas and is owned by M J & L A Taylor. Haggas says the chestnut filly came out of her last outing "really well," a run in which he said, "She was relentless." The 51-year-old Haggas has had 74 wins and 72 seconds in 412 runs (GB flat race) this year. His three big wins this year were all with Dancing Rain. The filly is set to be ridden in Kyoto by Irish jockey John Murtaugh, 41, who rode her the last time out and twice previous for two wins total.

The Queen Elizabeth II is run to the right over 2,200 meters of turf and is open to females 3 years and older. Dancing Rain, as a 3-year-old, will carry only 54 kg, as opposed to the 56 for older females. Snow Fairy, though she has not enjoyed 54 kg since the Hong Kong Cup, may still find her 56 kg burden easier going than the 58 kg she was asked to shoulder in the Arc.

This year, the JRA is again offering a special bonus system for the race. Horses that have won in designated races will receive a bonus if they finish in the top three spots of the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup. This bonus comes in addition to the regular prize money. Dancing Rain, as winner of the Oaks, is eligible for a 63 million yen bonus if she wins, 25 million if she places and 16 million extra to show in the QEII. Last year's bonus to the winner was landed by Snow Fairy.