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2011 Japan Cup (G1) - Profile of Invited Horses

Sarah Lynx captured her first G1 title in this year's Canadian International (G1), her first challenge against older G1 company of the opposite gender, to become the first filly to prevail since Infamy in 1988. Making the most of a ground-saving trip on yielding turf, the Montjeu filly romped to a four-length victory, spoiling Joshua Tree's attempt to defend his 2010 title. Relaxed with blinkers on for the third time, Christophe Soumillon successfully guided the lone and long shot filly in the field of international runners in her first campaign outside of Europe.

Making her debut in Longchamp as a three-year-old, she posted her first win in her second outing in the Prix Banshee, and immediately joined group-race company in her next start, the Prix Minerve (G3), where she was fourth. Her first test at the highest level was in the Prix Vermeille (G1), finishing fifth to multiple G1 winner Midday.

In the Prix de Pomone (G2), her third outing this season, she demonstrated a good drive in the final furlong after pressing the pace to win over Miss Crissy by 1-1/2 lengths, marking her second career and first group-race victory. She was unable to deliver in the Prix Vermeille (G1) clearing the wire in fourth, two lengths behind Shareta who was third, but showed an outstanding performance from midfield in the following Canadian International.

Sarah Lynx is 3-0-1 in her 11 career starts and is a versatile filly with wins on goings of various conditions, and on sright and left-handed courses.

Shareta is enjoying a prosperous three-year-old campaign this year with 3-2-1 in her seven starts so far. Her most recent and first group-race win was in the Prix Minerve (G3) in which she drew away to a comfortable three-length victory, holding off stable-mate Pacifique. Especially impressive was her runner-up effort in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, her third G1 challenge and first contest against the other gender. Although she was no threat to German winner Danedream, she held on stubbornly to cross the wire a neck in front of multiple G1 winner Snow Fairy for second.

Second in her only start as a two-year-old, she broke her maiden in the Prix de la Chapelle en Serval, after kicking off the current season with a second to subsequent G1 winner Galikova in the Prix Astronomie. Her only finish outside of the money was in her next race and first G1 attempt, the Prix de Diane (French Oaks, G1), where she failed to respond. She immediately bounced back to land two consecutive wins in the Prix de Thiberville (Listed) and the Prix Minerve (G3), and stepped up in class for the group-one Prix Vermeille, where she grudgingly gave up the runner-up position in the final strides to Testosterone and allowed her to beat her by a neck for a close third.

German filly Danedream has shown a rapid and successful soar in her career beginning this spring, landing emphatic wins in Italy and Germany, and by claiming the pinnacle of the sport, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), posting a five-length victory against an all-star field. Under Andrasch Starke, the lightly regarded three-year-old filly demonstrated amazing acceleration to sail past the leaders, becoming the second German horse to dominate Europe's most prestigious race in a record time of 2:24.49.

Her previous two starts in Germany were both dominated by a strong stretch drive displayed by the Lomitas filly, holding off G1winning Scalo by five lengths in the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) and another G1 champion Night Magic by six lengths in the Grosser Preis von Baden (G1). After these wins, it was decided to supplement her to the Arc by her connections, which include Japanese breeder/owner Teruya Yoshida, who purchased a half-interest in the filly just a few days before.

She broke her maiden in her first start, and traveled back and forth between France and Germany during her 2010 debut campaign. She capped off the season finishing within the money in a group-three race in Germany, after being defeated in her first group-one bid in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

She hopes to become the first Arc champion to claim the Japan Cup title in the same year, as well as taking home the trophy to her homeland since Lando in 1995. For trainer Peter Schiergen, it will be his second Japan Cup challenge since Tiger Hill in 1999 (tenth). Eyes will not only be on her excelling speed which would definitely fit in with the generally fast pace in Japan, but also on her merciless winning style that has not failed to put daylight between her opponents and herself.

Mission Approved caught the eye of trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul in a claiming race in June 2010, and was purchased for $35,000. He responded immediately when sent to challenge the Man o' War Stakes, and in spite of being the longest shot on the board, he held on impressively for second, a neck behind multiple G1 winner and Eclipse Award Winner Gio Ponti. He promptly claimed his first G1 victory, after being sidelined for 11 months with a quarter crack, in the Manhattan Handicap this season, where he pulled a major upset by going wire-to-wire, this time beating Gio Ponti to third place. All of his four outings this season were G1 events, the last of which was a fourth-place finish in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes.

Formerly trained by Gary Contessa, the New York-bred horse broke his maiden in his first race over dirt and landed another win in his fourth start before switching to turf races. After an immediate win on turf and a couple of heavy defeats, he claimed the 2007 Saranac Stakes (G3) in Saratoga in his first graded stakes bid. As long-shot, frontrunner Mission Approved never surrendered the lead and cleared the wire 3/4 length in front of favorite Distorted Reality. Followed by another win and a fifth, he capped off his debut season registering 5-1-1 out of 10 starts.

The son of With Approval, 1989 Canadian Triple Crown winner, scored another grade-three win, the only win in his four starts the next season, in the 2008 Singspiel Stakes held at Woodbine, Canada. Although winless in his following five-year-old season, he showed a runner-up effort trying to defend his title in the 2009 Singspiel Stakes.

Although he has experienced two campaigns in Canada, the fervor of his connections towards his first overseas challenge against top international horses could be seen in his early arrival in Japan.