To say that Gold Ship (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) has a cult following–not just in his homeland but from all corners of the globe–would be an understatement of monumental proportions. The famously obstreperous gray colt, making the final start of a career that saw him win the event as a 3-year-old in 2012 before finishing third the last two seasons, will try to go out a winner in Sunday's G1 Arima Kinen before a six-figure crowd at Nakayama.
Notoriously tough to handle, but as talented as they come if his mind is on the task at hand, Gold Ship narrowly defeated subsequent G1 Melbourne Cup favorite Fame Game (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) by a narrow margin in the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over 3200 meters May 3. But he went straight onto his hind legs as the gates were sprung for the G1 Takarazuka Kinen June 28 and never reached serious contention, finishing 15th of the 16 runners as the 9-10 chalk. Though the task was always going to be a tough one returning to action in the G1 Japan Cup Nov. 29, Gold Ship was nevertheless the 7-2 second choice, but faltered late to finish a midpack 10th, about two lengths behind Shonan Pandora (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). He was the leading vote-getter in this popularity contest for the second straight year.
“To be able to ride a horse this popular, this supported in his final race is an absolute honor for a jockey,” commented Hiroyuki Uchida. “The norm has never applied with him. He's still full of energy and the potential he's always showed is incredible.”
Since being stretched out in trip, Albert (Jpn) (Admire Don {Jpn}) has been unstoppable and looks to make it five on the bounce Sunday afternoon. A winner over 2000 meters at Sapporo Aug. 30, he took 12-furlong tests in the lower grades at Tokyo Oct. 10 and at Kyoto Nov. 14 before recording a breakthrough pattern score in the G2 Stayers' S. going 18 panels at this venue Dec. 6.
“He's got good body balance and didn't let up through the entire workout. He's in the same form he was in for his last race,” commented trainer Noriyuki Hori. “His previous start was a marathon but didn't take long to get his wind back after the race. [Winning jockey Ryan] Moore made sure the race didn't take too much out of him. I really think it's up for grabs, which is a huge reason why we decided to throw our hat into the ring. We're going into the race with great expectations.”
With the Japan Cup heroine taking a pass, Last Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will represent the form of the race for his sire, who won this in 2006. Fourth to Gold Ship in the Tenno Sho, the 5-year-old was only 12th to Lovely Day (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the autumn running of the Tenno Sho Nov. 1, but flashed home along the rail in the Japan Cup to just miss in second, with Lovely Day third as the favorite.
Marialite (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) looks to be in with an upset chance. Fifth to Shonan Pandora in the 2200-meter G2 All Comers S. over this surface Sept. 27, she hit the line a neck to the good of Nuovo Record (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup Nov. 15, with Rouge Buck (Jpn) (Manhattan Café {Jpn}) further back in fourth. Nuovo Record returned to complete a Japanese 1-2 in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin Dec. 13.
The Arima Kinen is easily the world's biggest betting race. In 2014, some ¥39 billion (over $322 million) was wagered on the race alone. To put that in some context, the 2014 and 2015 Breeders' Cup attracted a combined $314 million.
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