The Japan Cup (G1) celebrates its 27th running on Sunday November 25th at Tokyo Racecourse, and in its short history has become one of the best races held anywhere in the world. The Japan Racing Association (JRA) established the race in 1981 as an invitational in order to test Japanese-breds against some of the best horses in the world. Contested at 2400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) on the turf for a purse of about $4.4 million, it has always been one of the world's richest horse races. Given its position at the end of the Northern Hemisphere flat racing season in mid November, championships can be decided on the track, just like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Europe and the Breeders' Cup in North America.
Among its winners include American horses Half Iced in 1982 and Golden Pheasant in 1991, European champions Singspiel in 1996 and Pilsudski in 1997, and of course Japanese greats such as Tap Dance City in 2003 and last year's winner Deep Impact. No horse has yet to win the race more than once. To encourage a top field to gather, the JRA instituted bonuses should winners or runner-up finishers of certain Grade/Group 1 events around the world ship in and win or place in the same year. Arc winner Dylan Thomas was eligible to take home a 130 million yen bonus if he won but he was scratched on Wednesday due to not testing negative for equine viral arteritis. Of the locals, Takarazuka Kinen (G1) winner Admire Moon and second place finisher Meisho Samson are eligible for bonuses as well, and are expected to go off at short odds in the Japan Cup.
Among the other entrants, England is represented by Arc Trial (G3) winner Halicarnassus and Princess of Wales's Stakes (G2) winner Papal Bull, Rheinland-Pokal der Sparkasse Kolnbonn (G1) winner Saddex comes in from Germany, and Clement Hirsch Memorial (G1) winner Artiste Royal represents the USA. Pop Rock, who finished second to fellow Japanese-bred Delta Blues in last year's Melbourne Cup (G1), and Admire Moon, making his final career start, should also draw some action.
In 2000, the JRA introduced a companion event to the Japan Cup, the Japan Cup Dirt, contested on the Saturday before the Japan Cup. Although one would expect such a race to attract American participation such as the Dubai World Cup and the other dirt races on its undercard, in fact foreign runners have been scarce in this event. Like the Japan Cup, this race also has a bonus system in place, with Pacific Classic (G1) winner Student Council eligible for a 130 million yen prize should be win. The two other foreign runners are shipping in from England – Jack Sullivan and Kandidate. The dirt track at Tokyo is located inside the main turf course, and the race is contested at a distance of 2100 meters (about 1 5/16 miles). Vermilion, who finished fourth in the Dubai World Cup this year, is the expected favorite.
Both the Japan Cup and Japan Cup Dirt cards are available on simulcast at selected outlets across North America and will be broadcast live on TVG. Free past performances are available here. Note that due to the time zone difference, the Japan Cup will be shown in North America on Saturday evening and the Japan Cup Dirt on Friday evening.
More on the Japan Cup:
- Japan Cup and Japan Cup Dirt 2007 - from Japan Association for International Horse Racing
- More on the 2007 Japan Cup - a preview of the expected runners
- More of the Japan Cup Dirt - a preview of the expected runners
- Free Past Performances - from TVG
- Horse Racing in Japan - from the JAIHR with lots of good info
- Japan Cup - lots of info from Wikipedia
- Past winners of the Japan Cup
- Past winners of the Japan Cup Dirt
- Tokyo Racecourse - an overview of the track layout and composition
- Tokyo Racecourse - lots of info from Wikipedia
