By Alan Carasso
Three of Europe's top 2400-metre gallopers face an 11-strong local challenge in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, looking to snap an 18-year run of success for Japanese-based horses.
While it has become next to impossible for the raiders to walk away with the Tokyo spoils, that was not always the case. In the first 17 renewals, horses from overseas prevailed on no fewer than a dozen occasions, including theretofore unprecedented consecutive winners for Sir Michael Stoute with Singspiel (Ire) and Pilsudski (Ire) in 1996 and 1997, respectively.
But since that time, it has been an embarrassment of riches for the home team as the depth in quality of Japanese bloodstock has increased meteorically. Only Falbrav (Ire) in the shortened Japan Cup at Nakayama in 2002 and Alkaased in 2005 have since been able to solve the race for the raiders, while the likes of Deep Impact (Jpn), Epiphaneia (Jpn), Contrail (Jpn), Kitasan Black (Jpn) and the latter's son Equinox (Jpn) have been joined on the local honour roll by top females Gentildonna (Jpn), Vodka (Jpn) and two-time winner Almond Eye (Jpn).
It has been an enigmatic version in 2024 of Auguste Rodin (Ire), who becomes the first foreign-based son of Deep Impact to contest a race on the JRA circuit. Never a factor at any point of the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic on seasonal debut, he bounced back to prove best in the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting and all seemed well in the world. Unable to match strides up the hill when fifth to Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the G1 King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July–a performance trainer Aidan O'Brien attributes to underfoot conditions that were easier than the listed good-to-firm–the 4-year-old was just beaten in the dying strides by the in-form Economics (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes Sept. 14.
A victory on Sunday would be the cherry on top of a fantastic career.
“We always dreamed that Auguste Rodin could finish off his career in Japan–obviously he's by one of the greatest stallions ever, Deep Impact, and his dam (three-time Group 1 winner Rhodendron {Ire}) is by Galileo (Ire), which is one of the greatest stallions ever in our part of the world,” O'Brien said earlier this week. “So, we always dreamed that he could be a horse for the Japan Cup. We know how difficult it is to win and how competitive it is and it's his third year in training and it's his last race. It was a dream that we could win the Japan Cup, we've tried it before, but no horse was as good as this horse.”
Goliath was runner-up in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, and his King George was a bit Harbinger-esque, as he came to win it on the bridle at the furlong, pinched a break and had future G1 Prix de l'Arc de Troimphe winner Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) in second and recent GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) back in third. A majority interest was subsequently acquired by American John Stewart's Resolute Racing and he prepped for this with a soft success in the G2 Prix du Conseil in heavy ground at ParisLongchamp Oct. 20. Jockey Christophe Soumillon has his first ride in Japan in five years and is bullish on his chances.
“I really think I ride the best horse in the race,” the Belgian said. “So, we're going to do our best on Sunday to realize everybody's dream. The team worked hard to bring him 100% fit and I think his owner wants to realize also something big, so we are all very confident.”
Germany won the 1995 Japan Cup with the globetrotting Lando (Ger) and Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) will give it a go this weekend. Victorious in Group 2 company at Cologne in June, the bay filled the runner-up spot for the second straight season in the G1 Bayrisches Zuchtrennen July 28 ahead of an eye-catching defeat of Dubai Honour (GB) (Prince of Dubai {Aus}) in the Sept. 1 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden. His ninth in the Arc is arguably better than it looks, he travels kindly and has a smart turn of foot, and the Fuchu course may just suit him.
The local charge is headed up by the likely favourite Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), whose sire was just beaten in 2005. Last year's G1 Arima Kinen hero was bothered by a stricken horse when making a run in this year's G1 Dubai Turf and he likely did not get through the conditions when sixth to Blow The Horn (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June, but whistled home impressively (final 600m in :32.5) to take out the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) over this track Oct. 27. Legendary jockey Yutaka Take looks for a fifth Japan Cup, and first since Kitasan Black in 2016.
“I have ridden many excellent horses, and have had joyous moments and frustrating moments,” said Take. “Last year, due to injury, I couldn't ride Do Deuce in the Japan Cup, but this year I'm in all the way. This horse has at most two more starts and I want to ride in such a way that leaves no room for regrets.”
Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a Group 1 winner over 3200 metres, was also inconvenienced by the ground in the Takarazuka Kinen and–particularly when factoring in that he is a stayer–also finished well (:33 flat) in the Tenno Sho to be a close fourth. The extra 400 metres works in his favour here.
Cervinia (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) disappointed in this year's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas), but bounced back to take the final two legs of the filly Triple Crown, the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) May 19 and the Oct. 13 G1 Shuka Sho. Fellow Oaks winner Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) did not miss the top three in her first 12 starts, but makes her first start since an eighth to Rebel's Romance in the Sheema Classic. She returned from a similar absence to finish an excellent third behind Equinox here 12 months back.
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