Three European raiders, including Arc star Danedream, arrive for Japan Cup bid.

Danedream

Sarah Lynx

Shareta

Danedream

Sarah Lynx

Shareta

A trio of ace fillies, all eligible to haul in a Japan Cup bonus on top of the 250 million-yen winner's prize, arrived safely at Tokyo's Narita International Airport Wednesday morning (Nov. 16). The three represented the last of the Japan Cup overseas-based nominees to arrive in Japan ahead of the Nov. 27 race. The field of this year's Japan Cup, the 31st running of the international invitational, is one of the strongest in recent years and may be the best chance for a foreign raider to score a victory since Britain's Alkaased won in 2005.

Arriving Wednesday were the France-based Sarah Lynx and Shareta, runnerup in this year's Prix de I'Arc de Triomphe, and last but far from least, from Germany, the Arc champion Danedream, who Wednesday in London claimed the esteemed Cartier award in the Three-Year-Old Filly category.

Danedream, by Lomitas, surprised punters this year in the Prix de I'Arc de Triomphe, when she not only won by 5 lengths, but did it in course record time as well. She became only the second German horse to win the prestigious race and gave rider Andrasch Starke the honor of becoming the first German jockey to win the Arc.

Earlier in the year, the now 5-for-12, Peter Schiergen-trained Danedream had clinched the Italian Oaks, as well as the Grosser Preis von Baden and the Grosser Preis von Berlin, all top-level races.

After arriving in Japan, assistant trainer Ilke Hildebrand said, "It was a long haul, but she looks fine. Tomorrow we'll take her out in the round ring and just let her loosen up."

Starke, who rode Caitano to a fourth-place finish in the 1997 Japan Cup, had said earlier in the week that, though Hildebrand would ride the filly's regular work, he would be on the scene for her final bit of work next week. When that exactly will be was not known. Hildebrand said upon arrival in Japan, "We plan to do some fast work once before the race, but haven't decided just when."

Starke earlier commented on what he thought were the filly's chance for a win at Tokyo. "The Japan Cup is a tough race, she has had a hard year and anything on top of the Arc would be a bonus.

"But this horse surprises me all the time. She doesn't show you anything in her work but she is a tremendous filly and if she is in the same form -- and I think she will be -- then we are in with a real chance."

Danedream was bred in Germany by Gestut Brummerhof. The bay filly is out of the unraced Danehill mare, Danedrop. She is co-owned by Gestut Burg Eberstein and Japan's Teruya Yoshida.

The 4-year-old Sarah Lynx, now 3 for 11, topped the Canadian International at Woodbine her last time out. By Montjeu, the Irish-bred bay filly also won the Prix de Pomone, a 2,500-meter G2 at Deauville in August. All her wins have been under Christophe Soumillon, who is slated to take the reins in the Japan Cup. The filly is owned by Mme Robert G Ehrnrooth and was bred at Grangecon Stud.

Sarah Lynx is trained by the English-born, Chantilly-based John Hammond, whose charges include Montjeu and Suave Dancer, both Arc winners. Kate Bradley, assistant to Hammond, said the journey from Europe had gone well. "She's eating well and very happy. We'll decide on the work menu every day after consulting with the trainer," Bradley said they would not take the filly onto the track Thursday, but would only take a stroll around the stable grounds.

The 3-year-old Shareta, who finished second in the Arc behind Danedream, was also repeated to have weathered the trip to Japan without a hitch. "She's very calm and quiet," said assistant trainer Jean-Michel Roux. Roux said Shareta too would stay off the track Thursday. "We'll decide on her work as we go along, seeing how she's doing." Shareta is trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, 67, a native of Normandy. His horses have won G1 races in eight countries on three continents and have captured all of the French classics at least twice. Dalakhani and Zarkava, both Arc winners, Hong Kong Cup winner Pride, and Melbourne Cup champion Americain, are among his recent stars. Shareta is bred and owned by H H Aga Khan.

Shareta, out of the Barathea mare Shawara, has won three of her eight starts thus far, all this year. Raced only once as a 2-year-old Shareta has been given seven races this year, her best win coming in the G3 Prix Minerve for 3-year-old fillies at Deauville in August over 2,500 meters.

The three fillies are all eligible for the JRA special bonus being offered to winners of designated races and, in some cases, the runnerups. Danedream, as winner of this year's Arc, is eligible to top the 250 million yen for a Japan Cup win with an added 100 million yen. Shareta, as Arc runnerup, could pull in an additional 40 million yen and Sarah Lynx, as winner of the Canadian International, could rake in an extra 70 million yen. Second and third place in the Japan Cup would also be for bonuses.