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| Sumita Pawar |
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The highly anticipated Japan Cup takes place on Sunday, 26th November, marking the 43rd running of the prestigious race. The winner will take home an impressive prize of US$33,56,950. Established in 1981, the 2,400-meter Group one race is held on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse and was created to attract the world's top horses to Japan. The event provides invaluable learning experiences for Japan's horsemen and is a thrilling international event for fans.
This year, only one of the two foreign raiders who intended to join, the Gr.1 winner Iresine, a France-based 6YO gelding trained by Jean-Pierre Gauvin, remains. Iresine is set to be ridden by Marie Velon. Nonetheless, the 2023 Japan Cup still looks very international with six non-Japanese jockeys expected to ride.
The race lineup this year features seven Gr.1 champions, including Equinox, a 4YO colt who has topped the world’s rankings since this spring and is currently on a five-race winning streak. Other champions include this year’s Fillies’ Triple Crown winner Liberty Island, three-time Gr.1 winner Titleholder, 2022 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) champ Do Deuce, Stars on Earth, who won two of last year’s fillies’ Classics, 2022 Japan Cup winner Vela Azul, and Panthalassa, with two Gr.1 trophies from the Middle East.
Tokyo Racecourse is known for its spaciousness, long homestretch, and the upward slope beginning soon after the final bend. The race starts in front of the grandstand and completes one lap around. 4YOs and up will carry 58kg, but 3YO colts and 4YO fillies will carry 2kg less, and 3YO fillies will carry 54kg.
It's worth mentioning that the Japan Cup will have the usual Group One post time of 15:40 locally and will be the 12th and final race on the Sunday card at Tokyo.
Equinox has been a force to be reckoned with, having already claimed four Gr.1 wins this year and topping the world's rankings with 129 points in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Christophe Lemaire, who has ridden the colt in all of his races, is expected to be in the saddle once again.
Liberty Island has had a strong season, winning four Gr.1 races in a row, including the Fillies' Triple Crown. This will be her first time competing against older horses, but if she wins, she'll become only the sixth Japan-based horse to win the Japan Cup as a 3YO.
Do Deuce, the 2022 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) champ, has had a mixed season but is looking fit for Sunday's race. Keita Tosaki will once again be riding in place of regular rider Yutaka Take.
Titleholder, a 5YO who skipped last year's Japan Cup, has landed three Group Ones this year and is looking fit with new partner William Buick expected to be in the saddle.
Stars on Earth, a 4YO filly, has never finished out of the Top 3 in any of her 10 career starts. She was forced to withdraw from the Tenno Sho (Autumn) due to a hoof problem but is ready to compete again.
Danon Beluga, a 4YO by Heart's Cry, has been close to the mark in his three starts since finishing fifth in last year's Japan Cup.
Other horses to watch include Deep Bond, Vela Azul, and Panthalassa.