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| Sumita Pawar |
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Hollie Doyle has been given the opportunity to ride in the Japan Cup for the first time. Unfortunately, Ryan Moore will not be able to participate due to doctors' orders. Moore was aiming for back-to-back wins in this prestigious race on Vela Azul at Tokyo on Sunday.
Following a fall during a race in Kyoto last Sunday, jockey Moore injured his back and was advised by medical professionals to be absent from Thursday’s big-race declarations. While he walked away from the incident seemingly unharmed, he missed out on riding Grade 1 Mile Championship winner Namur due to his injury.
With her impressive record of four wins from 31 rides during her second spell in Japan, jockey Doyle has been called up to replace Moore. Her inclusion means that three female jockeys will be participating in Japan’s biggest international race, a significant increase from the one female jockey who participated in the previous 42 runnings. In 1990, American legend Julie Krone finished 14th of 15 behind Better Loosen Up, Australia’s only winner of the race.
Doyle will be joined by Nanako Fujita, one of the few female riders in the Japan Racing Association, on Win Erfolg, as well as Marie Velon, who will represent France as the sole overseas challenger by partnering with veteran horse Iresine. Velon has the record for the most wins by a female jockey in a season in France and won a leg of the World All-Star Jockeys series at Sapporo in August. However, this will be her first time venturing to Japan. Despite being concerned about Iresine’s muscle problem, likely caused by dehydration during the 36-hour journey from France, Lyon-based trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin remains optimistic about their chances of success in the race.
He said,“I was worried, but we took measures and the JRA vets have been very understanding. Now his condition is the same as it was when we left France.”
During the random selection of stalls, Gauvin expressed his wish for a middle draw, and it was granted as Iresine was placed in stall seven. The world's highest-rated horse, Equinox, and fillies' Triple Crown winner, Liberty Island, will be jumping side by side from stalls two and one, respectively. Coral has named Equinox as the 2-5 favourite for Japan Cup glory, having won the Sheema Classic earlier this year, while Liberty Island is a 5-2 shot. The odds for other horses are 16-1 or higher.