In the first genuine clash of the generations, it was the 3-year-old crop who prevailed in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International at York as Ballydoyle's Japan (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) edged out Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a thriller. Tracking stablemate Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in fourth early under Ryan Moore, the G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner joined battle with the Stoute-trained 11-10 market-leader passing the two-furlong pole and after a nip-and-tuck final furlong gained the upper hand close home for a head success, with Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}) a length back in third. “Ryan was over the moon with him, he's got better and better,” Aidan O'Brien said of the 5-1 second favourite. “We saw he got a mile and a half and we didn't want to bottom him today which is why we came back to a mile and a quarter with the autumn coming.”
Slowly getting the message with every outing, Japan followed a debut seventh in a mile maiden at The Curragh at the start of September with a seven-furlong success at Listowel 11 days later before upstaging Mount Everest (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Beresford S. at Naas later that month. Fourth after a troubled spring in the G2 Dante S. over this course and distance May 16, he was one of the quintet involved in the battle for the G1 Epsom Derby and ended up a half-length third behind Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the June 1 blue riband looking for all the world as if he would flourish as the season wore on.
Impressive in Royal Ascot's G2 King Edward VII S. June 21, Japan was probably only going through the motions at ParisLongchamp on Bastille Day and his inclusion in this speedier test was a slight surprise given that he had looked up to now more of a mile-and-a-half performer. Never out of his comfort zone tracking Circus Maximus, Crystal Ocean and Elarqam, he displayed a fine work ethic as the favourite failed to open up more than a narrow gap on him from the two pole and he belied his inexperience to become the latest to deny Crystal Ocean at the top table.
“We couldn't be happier and the team back home have done a magnificent job,” O'Brien added. “He had an easy race in Longchamp, it was a steadily-run race and he quickened and got to the front. It was very easy for him and we knew he wouldn't go and win by far. He's a lovely relaxed horse with loads of class. The first time he showed us that real class was when he won the Beresford when he beat two or ours which we knew were good horses. We rushed him to get back ready for the Dante, but every rung has been a step up.”
The Ballydoyle handler is in no doubt about the merit of the Classic generation, which had not been properly tested so far given the below-par displays of the representatives in the Eclipse and King George. “The three-year-olds are better than anyone thinks,” he said. “The King George was a bit of a disaster with the soft ground and it didn't work, but that wasn't a true reading of the three-year-old form. The lads will see what they want to do, but it'll be something like the Arc and we'll maybe take in the [Sept. 14 G1] Irish Champion Stakes [at Leopardstown] on the way.”
Sir Michael Stoute was unable to make an excuse for Crystal Ocean, while Elarqam who may have been slightly unlucky having to be checked and switched around rivals late on came in for praise from Mark Johnston. “He was obviously very keen early on and he got caught off the bridle a couple out, but he has come back with a vengeance. Jim [Crowley] felt had he let him stride on early on then he might've won it. Had they come up the middle, as they have done in every race for the last five years, he might have won anyway. So it's frustrating, but it certainly confirms beyond any doubts that he had class, so that's reassuring.”
John Gosden said of TDN Rising Star King of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who was also in the mix on his first proper examination, “He stumbled out of the gate and was then too keen for three furlongs. He eventually settled into a rhythm, came with a nice-looking run, but paid the price for having used too much petrol early. He'd have been a good third. He's still quite young and I think when he learns to race more professionally he'll give them a real race. We'll back away now, we're not going to go to Ireland, we'll freshen him up, give him a racecourse gallop and go for the [Oct. 19 G1] QEII [at Ascot]. He's a mile-and-a-quarter horse, but not if you over-race early. The pace was a bit stop-start, which was clever as it worked for Japan and as usual they [Ballydoyle] knew what they were up to. We'll definitely be looking at 10 furlongs and the Prince of Wales's next year, no problem.”
Japan is a full-brother to Secret Gesture (GB), who was runner-up in the 2013 G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Preis Der Diana and was disqualified from first place in the 2015 GI Beverly D. S. Successful in the G2 Middleton S. here, she was the best out of Shastye (Ire) (Danehill) until Japan ousted her and is also a full-sibling of Sir Isaac Newton (GB) who cost 3.6 million gns at Tattersalls October and won the Listed Wolferton S. and was fourth in this and the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.
Shastye is a half-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sagamix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud-winning sire Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and to the dams of the G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Sageburg (Ire) (Johannesburg) and G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Sagawara (GB) (Shamardal). Shastye's 2-year-old full-brother to Japan named Mogul (GB) fetched 3.4million gns at the most recent Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale and made his debut recently when an encouraging second. Her filly foal is by Galileo.
Wednesday, York, Britain
JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL S.-G1, £1,062,500, York, 8-21, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT, 2:07.77, gd.
1–JAPAN (GB), 125, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Shastye (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Saganeca, by Sagace (Fr)
3rd Dam: Haglette, by Hagley
(1,300,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £602,544. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & GSW-Ire, 8-5-0-1, $1,599,299. *Full to Secret Gesture (GB), GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Fr & Ger, GISP-US, $746,427; and 1/2 to Sir Isaac Newton (GB), GSW-Ire, SW-Eng & GSP-Aus, $403,231; and Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}), SW & MGSP-Aus, $403,286. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Crystal Ocean (GB), 132, h, 5, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Crystal Star (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Sir Evelyn de Rothschild; B-Southcourt Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £228,438.
3–Elarqam (GB), 132, c, 4, Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)–Attraction (GB), by Efisio (GB). (1,600,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Floors Farming (GB); T-Mark Johnston. £114,325.
Margins: HD, 1, 3/4. Odds: 5.00, 1.10, 8.00.
Also Ran: King of Comedy (Ire), Regal Reality (GB), Lord Glitters (Fr), Circus Maximus (Ire), Cheval Grand (Jpn), Thundering Blue. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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