G1 Japan Cup

The G1 Japan Cup will be broadcast on Racing TV to the UK and Ireland for the first time on Sunday, 6:40 a.m. GMT. A prize-money haul of £2.7 million will be awarded to the winner of the 2400-metre Tokyo cornerstone. Seven Group 1 winners have been entered, including the current Longines World's Best Racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), who has won his past five races. Dr. Kanichi Kusano, general manager of the Japan Racing Association (JRA) London office, said, "We are pleased to announce that the Japan Cup,...

The reign of 2005 G1 Japan Cup hero Alkaased (Kingmambo) will have to stand as testament as the last foreign-bred winner to claim the 2400-metre contest for another year once again, as Vela Azul (Jpn) (Eishin Flash {Jpn}), under an icy Ryan Moore steering job, prevailed for Japan. A Carrot Farm silksbearer, the 5-year-old was three-quarters of a length to the good of 2021 G1 Japanese Derby and 2022 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic victor Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) on the line. Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), who is...

Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Farm has purchased Group 1 winner Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) for broodmare duty after her run in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, Jour de Galop reported. Fifth in the Cup in 2021, she is currently jointly owned 50/50 by Yoshida and Xavier Marie's Haras de Hus. Anne-Sophie Yoh, who manages the interests of Haras de Hus, confirmed the news to JDG. Bred by Elevage Haras de Bourgeauville and sold for €18,000 to Marco Bozzi Bloodstock during Arqana's October Yearling Sale in 2017, the bay made...

Classic heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is in "perfect condition" in advance of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Nov. 14, according to assistant trainer Kate Harrington. Racing for Zhang Yuesheng, the 3-year-old filly, who won the G2 Ribblesdale S. prior to her G1 Irish Oaks heroics, was fifth to future Arc winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks in August. "This morning, she galloped for about six furlongs," said Harrington, who assists her mother, Jessica. "We just wanted to get a nice breeze into...

Japanese Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence--Roamin Rachel, by Mining) passed away due to heart failure on Friday morning, www.tospo-keiba.jp.com reported. The 2004 G1 Japan Cup winner, who was standing at Murakami Kinya Ranch, was 22. The dark bay was a "cool horse, who walks with dignity as he was when he was racing," owner Zenno Management said on Facebook. "The diagnosis is a deterioration of the heart muscle due to aging. Last night [Sept. 1], the stallion laid down to sleep normally, but could not...

Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has emerged from his G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. victory in good order and will point towards the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 2, according to co-trainer William Muir. After running second in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December, the bay did not make an impact in Riyadh, and was an unlucky fourth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March. Wheeled back attempting a title defence of his G1 Coronation...

Last year's Japanese Triple Crown winner and dual champion Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhodochrosite, by Unbridled's Song) will retire to Shadai Stallion Station in Japan after making his final start in the G1 Japan Cup on Nov. 28. The news was first reported by BloodHorse. A fee for the 4-year-old North Hills Co., Ltd-bred will be announced later. The Shinji Maeda colourbearer, who is trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was named the Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt of 2019 on the back of a flawless campaign that culminated in a 1 1/2-length...

The upset winner of the 100th Qatar GI Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Torquatar Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) will not go to Japan, as his connections have decided he has done enough for the year, according to a report in the Jour de Galop. Instead, he will remain in training to make a run at the 101st edition of the ParisLongchamp showpiece in an attempt to become the ninth two-time winner of the race. Until now, no 4-year-old male winner of the Arc has succeeded in making it a double...

Japanese Horse of the Year Jungle Pocket (Jpn) (Tony Bin {Ire}-Dance Charmer, by Nureyev) passed away at Breeders' Stallion Station in Japan, Tokyo-Sports reported on Tuesday. The grandson of GII Del Mar Debutante S. heroine Skillful Joy (Nodouble) was 23. Bred by Northern Farm and campaigned by Katsumi Yoshida, the May foal won two of three starts at two including the Sapporo Sansai S. in September of 2000 before a second-place finish in the Radio Tampa Hai Sansai S. Back in the winner's circle in the Kyodo News Service Hai,...

The 2020 G1 Japan Cup delivered on its billing as primarily a three-way battle between 2018 Fillies' Triple Crown Winner Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and this year's undefeated pair of Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and 2020 Fillies' Triple Crown victress Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}). The 2400-metre contest went to Silk Racing's 2018 Horse of the Year duly saluting as the 6-5 favourite over second choice Contrail at 9-5. Daring Tact narrowly secured third place as the 5-2 third pick. When the gates opened,...