Home Team Face Sneaky Euro Challenge in Japan Cup

In the first 11 runnings of the G1 Longines Japan Cup, foreign raiders were successful no fewer than nine times, with winners from America, Australia, France, Ireland and New Zealand. But not since Alkaased (Kingmambo) defeated Heart's Cry (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) in 2005 for Frankie Dettori and Luca Cumani has any overseas-based galloper managed to land a winning blow. The locals will be favoured to take that current streak to 17 when a full field loads the gate at Tokyo Sunday afternoon, but Europe has strength in numbers–and class–to make things at least a little bit interesting.

Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), winner of the 2021 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) over Sunday's course and 2400-metre trip, completed a 1-3 finish for his late sire behind fellow Derby winner Contrail (Jpn) last year and will have his fair share of backers. Winner of this year's G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic without the benefit of a tightener, the Sunday Racing runner failed to handle the challenges that Ascot brings when fourth of five in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. in June. The dark bay prepped for this with a fifth in the Oct. 30 G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), in which G1 Dubai Turf dead-heater Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) led by double digits into the final 600 metres, only to be run down by the G1 Arima Kinen-bound Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Shahryar ran home in :33.6 that day and should strip fitter over a more suitable distance Sunday.

“He's come out of the race very well so we were able to have him back in training right away,” said assistant trainer Nobuyuki Tashiro. “His fast work was last week on Nov. 17 on the grass track. His weight hasn't changed much but, having raced, he's sharpened him up. He's leaner, with good muscle tone, and everything is going smoothly.”

 

 

Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is the lone Japanese-bred three-year-old in the field and–with just five starts under his belt–is one of the least experienced. He makes up for that with abundant talent, as he bested future G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) in Group 3 company in February before finishing fourth in the Guineas and in the Derby. He closed off even more sharply than Shahryar in the Tenno Sho (:32.8) and he, too, can improve second-up.

Vela Azul (Jpn) (Eishin Flash {Jpn}) is very much the 'now' horse and a different proposition altogether since switching to the turf this year. A two-time winner from 16 tries on the dirt, he is three-for-five on the grass, including a fast-finishing defeat of Boccherini (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in the 2400-metre G2 Kyoto Daishoten at Hanshin Oct. 10. The visiting Ryan Moore hops aboard.

Weltreisende (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) accounted for recent G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup heroine Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in Group 2 company in June, but disappointed when sixth behind that rival in the G2 All Comers S. Sept. 25. Damian Lane, in the irons for the five-year-old's last win, has the call.

Can Team Europe Turn The Tide?

As he has been in almost every racing jurisdiction, Frankel (GB) has proved an unqualified success in Japan, with 33 winners including dual-surface Group 1 winner Mozu Ascot, two-time champion Soul Stirring (Jpn) and top-level scorer Grenadier Guards (Jpn). A Japan Cup victory from Onesto (Ire) could somehow manage to elevate the stallion's profile further still.

The chestnut announced his arrival really and truly with a last-to-first tally over Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz) in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris on Bastille Day and was exceptionally brave when just beaten by Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. Sept. 10. The chestnut clearly hated the boggy underfoot conditions at ParisLongchamp in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Oct. 2 and his 10th-place effort to Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was achieved on heart alone. Christophe Lemaire takes the unusual decision to side with the foreigner over a local ride.

“The trip to Japan went very smoothly–it was a 24-hour trip from our stables at Chantilly to the quarantine stables here at Tokyo Racecourse,” trainer Fabrice Chappet said. “The staff is happy with the wonderful facility and the climate is great for the horse too.”

 

 

 

Simca Mille did his part to frank the Grand Prix de Paris form when finishing well to land the G2 Prix Niel on Arc Trials day Sept. 11, but swerved the Arc itself in favour of this spot. Gregory Benoist retains the ride.

Grand Glory (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) covered herself in glory when staying on into fifth in last year's race and added this year's G3 Prix Allex France. She ran on from the tail to be a highly creditable fifth in the Arc and was recently snapped up by Shadai as a future member of their powerful broodmare band.

Tunnes (Ger) (Guilani {Ger}) is the ultimate wildcard in Sunday's test. Beaten just once in six career starts, the half-brother to Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) streaked home to win the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern by 10 lengths Nov. 6. Most of his German form is over easy ground and he will have to cope with a much quicker surface this weekend. Lando (Ger) won the 1995 Japan Cup for Germany.

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Vente d’Elevage Catalogue Online

The catalogue for Arqana's Vente d'Elevage, to be held Dec. 3-6 in Deauville, is now online. This year's sale features a total of 1,024 mares, fillies and foals and will also include dispersals from the legendary Haras du Quesnay and the Saudi entity Marbat LLC.

The opening session of the auction will see the first 248 lots go under the hammer, including 40 stakes winners in and out of training. Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), winner of this year's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille, will be offered by trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. A graduate of the 2019 Arqana August Yearling Sale, Sweet Lady–owned by Gemini Stud–is out of the stakes-winning High Heel Sneakers (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) is set to make a second trip through the December sale, having fetched €2.5 million from Yohea on behalf of Haras de Hus last year. Winner of the 2021 G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet, the 6-year-old added the G3 Prix Allez France Longines this past May and was a latest admirable fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Prior to her date in the sales ring, she will take part in the G1 Longines Japan Cup, in which she was fifth last term.

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Onesto Aiming For Japan Cup

'TDN Rising Star' Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), winner earlier this year of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and narrowly runner-up to Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G1 Irish Champion S.,  is set to make his final appearance of the season in the G1 Japan Cup at Toyko Racecourse. Onesto was last seen finishing ninth behind Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in a heavy-turf renewal of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Oct. 2.

The 3-year-old will be part of a three-pronged challenge from France to also include Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), just beaten in the Grand Prix de Paris and subsequent winner of the G2 Prix Niel on Arc Trial day Sept. 11; and Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), a meritorious five-lengths' fifth to Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in last year's Japan Cup whose major victory this year came in the G3 Prix Allez France Longines in May. Grand Glory is then slated for a return to the Arqana December Sale, where she sold for €2.5 million in 2021.

“It's a nice race to contest,” trainer Fabrice Chappet told Paris Turf. “The horse has returned from an Arc de Triomphe that was run in the circumstances that we all know. We will see him again on…ground that he appreciates. The race is late in the season, but he had a good break after the Arc. Next year, he won't come back until May, so it's possible to go there and try it.”

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Grand Glory Returning to Arqana’s Vente d’Elevage

Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), who sold for €2.5 million to rank as the second-dearest offering at last year's Arqana Vente d'Elevage, is headed back through the Deauville sales pavilion in early December.

The daughter of Madonna Lily (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}) belied odds of 23-1 to post a maiden Group 1 victory in last year's Darley Prix Jean Romanet and proved that effort was no fluke when just pipped by eventual €3-million December sales-topper Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera ahead of a bold fifth-place effort behind Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Japan Cup.

Purchased at last year's December sale by agent Anne-Sophie Yoh on behalf of owner Xavier Marie's Haras de Hus, Grand Glory has trained on nicely this season at six, topped by a popular success in the G3 Prix Allez France at ParisLongchamp in May. A sound third to State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in June, Grand Glory was fourth in the G1 Prix Vermeille Sept. 11 and a latest fifth to Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Oct. 2 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She is currently being prepared for a return engagement in the Japan Cup at the end of November.

“In the beginning, Mr. Marie wished to start breeding, so we bought mares with exceptional pedigrees, including Grand Glory,” explained Yoh. “However, this purchase also enabled him to discover more about life as an owner, and he has enjoyed it so much that he has decided to concentrate on this. For this reason, Grand Glory will go under the hammer as a broodmare prospect. She will be offered by [her trainer] Gianluca Bietolini and his team, which seems a fitting next step for this incredible mare.”

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