If international drivers want to end local dominance in the Japan Cup (G1), this could be the year.
The last foreign horse to salute the judges in Japan’s top international race was a Kentucky crossbred and trained by the British. alkalized in 2005. The following year, Deep impact returned the trophy to local store shelves and it has remained there ever since.
In recent years, dominance has been helped by pandemic-related travel complications. But the quality of Japanese horses also has a profound impact. Case in point: 2020, when almond eyes ended his illustrious career with a win with the undefeated Triple Crown that year and the dirty Triple Crown winners streaks and tactical daring second and third.
This year, not so much.
While Daring Tact is back for a November 27 extension at Tokyo Racecourse, she has come into the race without winning in six starts since the Japan Cup third place two years ago. Uberleben won the 2021 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) but she hasn’t even made it into the bracket in six starts since.
The best of the local lot can be Shahryar who will be a force to be reckoned with at its peak and capable of progress Danon Beluga.
Shahryar wins Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan
Deep Impact’s 4-year-old Shahryar won the 2021 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) and finished third in the Japan Cup. England kick off the campaign to win 2022 with a win at the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) over the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) and Eclipse Prize winner Yibir . However, that peak was followed by fourth place in Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot and fifth place in Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) after the summer break.
Coach Nobyuki Tashiro remains optimistic about a possible change.
“After racing, he became sharper,” said Tashiro. “He’s leaner, with lean muscle, and everything is going smoothly. This is our biggest goal in the fall campaign. He’s made significant progress and my expectations are high. “
Danon Beluga, 3 years old by the cry of the heart just started for the sixth time and looking for a third win but first at the 1st grade level. He finished third in the October 30th Tenno Sho and after that, his relationships chose to participate. Japan Cup instead of Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) on 11 December.
Danon Beluga’s coach, Noriyuki Hori, said: “Tenno Sho was decided in the last three innings very quickly. “So after that race I kept him at the training center and watched him to make sure everything was fine.
“He was quiet at first and seemed tired. But he ate all of his food and his fitness was back to what it was before the race.”
The invaders arrive with at least equally impressive credentials and one, great glory knocked out Shahryar, finishing third in the Prince of Wales race, one head ahead of that opponent. The 6-year-old mare also has the advantage of running first in the Japan Cup after finishing 5th last year. She finished fifth by running late in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1)—an effort good enough to surprise her coach Gianluca Bietonini.
Grand Glory practices before the 2021 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse
“The Arc is a tough race and the race conditions are being tested,” Bietoni said. “Even so, Grand Glory was able to finish superbly while racing in a vantage point near the rear. I think she’s one of the top mares of group 1. Her fifth place in the series Arc was more than we expected and we are very pleased with the result.”
Ranked highest among foreigners, at number 123, is a 3-year-old boy, trained in France Frankel pony, Onesto and of Germany tunnel . Factory Simca one Tamayuz colt, complete the quartet.
Onesto won the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) against Simca Mille at Longchamp on Bastille Day. Onesto was last seen placing 10th in the Arc while Simca Mille’s final start resulted in victory at the Qatar Prix Niel (G2) on Arc Preview Day.
Tunnes, the winner of the last five starts, has the opportunity to make another global statement for his homeland. His 10-match win at the Grosser Allianz-Preis von Bayern (G1) November 6 in Munich shows he is in battle form and Germany’s top equestrian, Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, will be training for Peter Schiergen.
Schiergen said Tunnes is “very fresh, only had three starts this year. So I think he has a good chance of winning the race.”
“Tunes is a horse with a lot of potential,” added Murzabayev, “and all of his races, especially his last start, were unbelievable. I’m sure that’s it. the Japanese horses are all strong contenders but I think we have a good chance of winning.”
This year’s encouraging voter turnout thanks to foreign ties could have been aided by the completion of the international quarantine at Tokyo Racecourse. Opening that facility eliminates the need for foreign arrivals to detour to the racetrack to quarantine before they can try the track they will face on race day.
“The new international stables are very special,” says Bietolini. “Last year we had to quarantine somewhere else but this year everything was done here and went smoothly.”
