Global Weekly Preview: French head strong foreign raid on Japan Cup
J A McGrath
25 November, 2016
The early 1980s will be recalled as a most significant era in the development of the International Racing programme known and accepted as commonplace today.
The Breeders' Cup format was devised and inaugurated in 1984, while the Arlington Million was launched in Chicago in 1981.
While these two American fixtures stand out for their innovative features at that time, the Japan Cup, first run in 1981, was different again.
Breaking new ground, Japanese racing opened its doors to foreign competition. For many years, the Japanese had been enthusiastic buyers overseas, but once those purchases were taken home to the Far East, little was ever heard of them again.
The Japan Cup offered the opportunity for Japanese owners and breeders to compare their best to well-credentialed visitors invited to compete in the Japan Cup, run over 2,400m (a mile and a half) at Tokyo Racecourse, Fuchu. The yardstick has proved invaluable.
Mairzy Dotes, ridden by Cash Asmussen, landed the inaugural running, and there have been several foreign winners since, though not, it should be noted, in latter years -- there has not been one since Alkaased in 2005.
The well-performed Erupt, trained in France by Francis Graffard, may be able to reverse the trend. Having finished sixth in last year's Japan Cup, he recently recaptured his best form when winning the Canadian International at Woodbine.
He likes the fast ground that is likely to prevail at Fuchu this weekend. Iquitos, winner of the Grosser Preis Von Baden, and Nightflower, both from Germany, also have solid chances.
Ryan Moore partners Real Steel, winner of the Dubai Turf, in the 17-runner field, which also features Kitasan Black, the 2015 Japanese St Leger winner, who is a brother to Deep Impact.
This year's Japanese line-up lacks depth. Many of the local stars are being held back for the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on Dec 11.
While this may be good for the likes of A Shin Hikari, Maurice, and their fans, it leaves the Japan Cup open to a strong foreign challenge, led by Erupt.
