Euros Face Tough Task In Japan Cup

The 35^th running of the G1 Japan Cup sees a four strong European raiding party take on a formidable looking home team of fourteen runners. Trip To Paris (Ire) a gallant fourth in the G1 Melbourne Cup bids to continue trainer Ed Dunlop's great record in Japanese Group 1 races. Although his best form is over longer distances his penultimate start when second in the G1 Caulfield Cup proves he can be effective over 2400m in top company. “He's the best he has been since he's been away,” reported Dunlop before adding. “I'm very happy with the draw—I spoke to Tommy Berry and he's quite happy with it and we can ride a similar race to how he was ridden in the Caulfield Cup.” Erupt (GB), representing French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard was far from disgraced when a close fifth to Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and according to the trainer, the Niarchos family's 3-year-old could still be improving. “This horse has already won a Group 1 race but he has always been late in maturing and he keeps improving all the time. Distance-wise, obviously he stays a mile and a half but he has early speed and he travels very well—he's very adaptable,” reported Graffard. German trainer Peter Schiergen fields the 3-year-old filly Nightflower (Ire) and she has the beating of her compatriot Ito (Ger) based on her last time win in the G1 Preis Von Europa at Cologne Sep. 27.

The race favorite is Lovely Day (Jpn), unbeaten in his last four starts, most recently as Nov. 1 when winning the G1 Tenno Sho over ten furlongs. His trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, seems pleased with his preparation and commented, ” I think he's at his prime. In fast work Nov. 19 we had him start behind another horse and he easily caught and passed that horse. He's coming along as we imagined and since we'd left room for improvement in his last race, he has gotten even better. I'm hoping to be able to give further proof of the high level of Japanese horses.” Japan's champion 3-year-old filly elect Mikki Queen (Jpn) will likely make a bold bid for success and having brought her Group 1 tally to two when claiming the Shuka Sho Oct. 18, she has reportedly been training well at the Ritto training center. Her trainer Yasutoshi Ikee is however aware of the task that faces the filly and commented, “This week she showed a nice turn of foot in her fast work. We've been careful to keep her relaxed and I think she'll go to the gate Sunday in the same condition she was for the Shuka Sho. She won the G1 Japanese Oaks at the same venue but the Japan Cup is a totally different race. It'll surely be a much tougher race than what she's had up to now.”