Japan Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Triple Crown Winner Contrail Bows Out With Japan Cup Triumph

Odds-on favorite Contrail romped to a two-length victory claiming this year's Japan Cup and fifth G1 triumph in his career-finale performance. After claiming the 2019 Hopeful Stakes as a 2-year-old, the Deep Impact colt went on to sweep the Triple Crown—the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, 2,000m), the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2,400m) and the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, 3,000m). Trainer Yoshito Yahagi is now the proud owner of 14 JRA-G1 wins—his latest victory was with the colt in last season's Kikuka Sho—while jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, following his recent Sprinters Stakes victory with Pixie Knight in October, has collected a total of 32 JRA-G1 wins.

Breaking well from the second most inner stall, Contrail was settled under Fukunaga in mid-pack and two-wide, while Kiseki made rapid headway in the backstretch from the rear, taking over the front at the third corner, extending his lead by six to seven lengths. By the time the field hit the top of the straight, the brown colt had shifted to the outside with clear running room in front of him and displayed his trademark explosive kick, shaking off Shahryar after a brief rally at the furlong pole then turned up an extra gear to easily put away Authority 100 meters out for a convincing two-length win.

“All I have now is mixed feelings of relief and lonesomeness,” said trainer Yoshito Yahagi. “In the colt's latest start (Tenno Sho (Autumn)), he broke poorly so I told him, while he was walking in the paddock earlier, to stay calm at the start. It worried me a bit since the pace was slow and he wasn't in that good a position, but we had tuned him up to perfection and the colt gave us all he had in the straight. I have to admit I was under a lot of pressure during the two years he was at my stable, but I think it has helped me in becoming more mature, and I can't thank him enough. Wouldn't it be wonderful to win the Arc with an offspring of his someday?”

“The colt had issues before his debut, so there were always concerns about his form, but I am so proud of how he proved himself today—I'm overwhelmed,” commented jockey Yuichi Fukunaga after the race. “All I did today was believe in him. He broke well and everything went just perfectly. He has given me every jockey's dream and I am utterly grateful. The colt shone a bright light over a gloomy year due to the pandemic last season. I'm relieved that we can send him off to his next career with this victory.”

Posted third favorite, 4-year-old Authority sat in fourth behind Shadow Diva, turned wide into the lane while passing Wagnerian and ran strongly, inheriting the lead from the tiredpacesetter300 meters out, but was gunned down in the last half furlong by the eventual winner for second.

Second favored 3-year-old colt Shahryar ran in fifth down the backstretch, entered the straight right behind Authority and in front of Contrail, ran willingly up the hill but was checked when rallying with the closing winner and had nothing left to tag the runner-up, finishing 1-1/2-lengths behind Authority in third.

French raider Grand Glory was the top finisher among the three foreign contingents. Unhurried after the break, the Olympic Glory mare saved ground along the rails in mid-division in ninth or tenth position. Angling out off the rails coming into the final turn, Grand Glory exerted an impressive turn of speed going up the long uphill stretch and geared up further from the 200-meter marker to make ground and finish fifth, five-lengths from the winner.

“I am very satisfied with her performance and her result at fifth-place. She appeared to lose a bit of balance and lean to the inside but thankfully Cristian got her back on her feet by the stretch. She's mentally very strong and the experience to run in the Japan Cup was fantastic for us. It's a great race and we would love to come back with another horse,” commented trainer Gianluca Bietolini.

“We couldn't have asked for a better result—having finished fifth in this competition is almost like winning for us. She was in super form, almost as good as when I rode her in the Prix Jean Romanet—which we won. The pace was very fast for this mare, but she handled it remarkably,” commented Cristian Demuro.

Japan broke sharply from an outside stall but was eased back to mid-field, choosing to move to the inside to save ground behind Grand Glory. Angled out at early stretch for a clear run, the Galileo horse attempted to make his bid with the eventual winner in view but was unable to cause a serious threat but held on for eighth.

“The track may have been a bit too fast for this horse. He was able to secure a good spot but wasn't able to keep up with the pace,” commented Patrick Keating.

Broome was slow out of the gate and gradually worked his way up to mid-division along the backstretch outside Grand Glory, but struggled to find another gear with 400 meters to go and even paced to finish 11th.

“He missed his break and that cost him,” said Patrick Keating. “He missed his break. The pace was slow but he wasn't able to pick up speed in the end,” added Ryan Moore.

Other Horses:
4th: (12) Sanrei Pocket—sat in front of winner, angled out, showed effort although unable to threaten top finishers while besting the rest
6th: (14) Uberleben—raced near winner, struggled to find clear path at early stretch, showed 2nd fastest late speed, belatedly
7th: (11) Shadow Diva—chased leaders in third, remained in contention until 100m out, weakened
9th: (9) Aristoteles—disputed lead and made pace, opening gap to 4 to 5 lengths, gave way to Kiseki while keeping second position, unable to sustain bid and overtaken
10th: (5) Kiseki—held back after break, headway along backstretch, led rounding 3rd corner and pulled away to open gap to 6 lengths, soon used up and outrun by foes at furlong pole
12th: (16) You Can Smile—further back than mid-division early, weakened after uphill stretch
13th: (13) Mozu Bello—near rear, raced wide throughout and unable to make up ground
14h: (15) Makahiki—raced second from last, unable to reach contention
15h: (10) Lord My Way—broke a fraction slow and raced behind, unable to make ground from wide turn
16th: (1) Muito Obrigado—trailed in rear, never a factor
17th: (8) Windjammer—mid-division early, even paced and outrun in last furlong
18h: (17) Wagnerian—broke sharply and tracked leader in 2nd, tired and faded

The post Triple Crown Winner Contrail Bows Out With Japan Cup Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Contrail Goes Out On A High In Japan Cup

Generational leader and 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was bet down to heavy favouritism for his swansong in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup despite having met with defeat in his last three outings, and he justified the betting public's faith with a straightforward score on his way to the stallion barn at Shadai Stallion Station.

After losing his unbeaten record in this race last year when he found only the champion filly Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) too tough, Contrail was third over yielding ground coming off a winter break in the G1 Osaka Hai on Apr. 4. Put away until Oct. 31, the dark bay resurfaced with a second-place finish in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn over 2000 metres at Tokyo.

Breaking among the leaders from gate two, Contrail was allowed to drop back through the field on the inside as they passed the stands for the first time. A rank Aristoteles (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) took the field around the first bend, with Contrail eventually settling right around midpack with this year's G1 Prix Jean Romanet victress Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), one of three international raiders, tracking him with Aidan O'Brien's Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) both keeping close tabs on her.

Midway down the backstretch the 2017 G1 Kikuka Sho winner Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn})-who has not won a race since-made a bold bid to pass the majority of the field on the outside to take the lead on the run into the final bend. Contrail, meanwhile, maintained his placing under Yuichi Fukunaga while working his way to the outside for running room coming off the turn. Contrail had about six lengths to make up upon straightening but was soon rolling down the middle of the course as Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) grabbed a short-lived lead from the tiring Kiseki approaching the 200. Authority's quest for a first Group 1 win was soon quelled by Contrail, who blew past under minimal urging with a furlong to run and drew clear to win by a widening two lengths. This year's G1 Tokyo Yushun scorer Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) got up for third, with Grand Glory staying on for fifth as she bowed out ahead of a sale date at Arqana December next weekend. Japan and Broome checked in eighth and 11th, respectively, under Yutaka Take and Ryan Moore. Japan was likewise running his last race before he heads to stud at Gestut Etzean in Germany.

Contrail's trainer Yoshito Yahagi said after seeing his stable star cross the wire for the final time, “All I have now is mixed feelings of relief and lonesomeness. In the colt's latest start [the Tenno Sho Autumn], he broke poorly so I told him while he was walking in the paddock earlier to stay calm at the start.

“It worried me a bit since the pace was slow and he wasn't in that good a position, but we had tuned him up to perfection and the colt gave us all he had in the straight. I have to admit I was under a lot of pressure during the two years he was at my stable, but I think it has helped me in becoming more mature, and I can't thank him enough. Wouldn't it be wonderful to win the Arc with an offspring of his someday?”

Fukunaga added, “All I did today was believe in him. He broke well and everything went just perfectly. He has given me every jockey's dream and I am utterly grateful. The colt shone a bright light over a gloomy year due to the pandemic last season. I'm relieved that we can send him off to his next career with this victory.”

Contrail was bringing to a close a distinguished career that began with victories at two in the G1 Hopeful S. and G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. Named Japan's champion 2-year-old off an unbeaten three-start campaign, Contrail picked up where he left off at three, rolling through the Japanese Triple Crown and also taking the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai to once again earn divisional honours.

Grand Glory's trainer Gianluca Bietolini said of his mare's fifth-place finish, “I am very satisfied with her performance and her result at fifth-place. She appeared to lose a bit of balance and lean to the inside but thankfully Cristian [Demuro] got her back on her feet by the stretch. She's mentally very strong and the experience to run in the Japan Cup was fantastic for us. It's a great race and we would love to come back with another horse.” Grand Glory's rider Cristian Demuro added, “We couldn't have asked for a better result–having finished fifth in this competition is almost like winning for us. She was in super form, almost as good as when I rode her in the Prix Jean Romanet, which we won. The pace was very fast for this mare, but she handled it remarkably.”

Aidan O'Brien was represented in Tokyo by Pat Keating, who said of Japan, “The track may have been a bit too fast for this horse. He was able to secure a good spot but wasn't able to keep up with the pace.” Of Broome, he added, “He missed his break and that cost him.”

Pedigree Notes

Shinji Maeda's Contrail is the third foal out of Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song), who was bought by Maeda's brother Koji of North Hills Farms for $385,000 at Keeneland September in 2011. The daughter of American champion 2-year-old filly Folklore (Tiznow) was placed four times at two, and has a 2-year-old full-brother to Contrail who has run twice this year.

Contrail's page has been further boosted this season by the exploits across the pond of GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. winner Essential Quality (Tapit), who is out of Folklore's half-sister Delightful Quality. Essential Quality was America's champion 2-year-old of 2020 and goes to stud in 2021 as a four-time Grade I winners with the likelihood of picking up another divisional championship first.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
JAPAN CUP-G1, ¥575,460,000, Tokyo, 11-28, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:24.70, fm.
1–CONTRAIL (JPN), 126, c, 4, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Rhodochrosite, by Unbridled's Song
                2nd Dam: Folklore, by Tiznow
                3rd Dam: Contrive, by Storm Cat
O-Shinji Maeda; B-North Hills; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Yuichi
Fukunaga; ¥303,822,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo & 3yo Colt-
Jpn, 11-8-2-1. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for
   the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Authority (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Orfevre (Jpn)–Rosalind (Jpn), by
Symboli Kris S. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥121,092,000.
3–Shahryar (Jpn), 121, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Dubai Majesty,
by Essence of Dubai. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm;
¥75,546,000.
Margins: 2, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.60, 6.10, 2.70.
Also Ran: Sanrei Pocket (Jpn), Grand Glory (GB), Uberleben (Jpn), Shadow Diva (Jpn), Japan (GB), Aristoteles (Jpn), Kiseki (Jpn), Broome (Ire), You Can Smile (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), Makahiki (Jpn), Lord My Way (Jpn), Muito Obrigado (Jpn), Windjammer (Jpn), Wagnerian (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Contrail Goes Out On A High In Japan Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Three International Raiders Take On Sunday’s $6 Million Japan Cup

This Sunday, Nov. 28, Tokyo Racecourse hosts the Grade 1 Japan Cup, the iconic invitational gala that has been instrumental in boosting Japan's horses and horsemen to the heights of international competitiveness they now enjoy. Some JPY 648 million, over USD 6 million, is up for grabs.

Japan's horses have monopolized the winner's circle for the past 15 years, and though dwindling participation by foreign raiders (only one last year and none in 2019) may have turned the odds in their favor, Japan's domination requires no math. Japan brings its very best to the race and this year is no different.

Eighteen Japan-based runners have been nominated for 15 berths in the 41st running of the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2 miles) turf event. There are six Grade 1 winners among them, with 2020 Triple Crown champion Contrail ready to join the ranks of Japan's top 10 money earners ever if he can land the race.

Unlike two years ago, there will be no default victory for Japan this year. Three overseas challengers, all top-level winners, have flown in to attempt to land the winner's prize. Two of them – Japan and Broome – hail from the stable of Aidan O'Brien. Grand Glory is fielded by French trainer Gianluca Bietolini. All three arrived in Japan on Nov. 19.

The U.K.-bred Grand Glory, a 5-year-old Olympic Glory mare was raced exclusively over 10 furlongs this year, captured the Grade 3 Grand Prix de Vichy in July, and followed that up with a win of the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August. Last out Oct. 3, she came in second under jockey Frankie Dettori in the Prix de L'Opera at Longchamp. Jockey Cristian Demuro, who rode both the mare's wins this summer, will be her partner on Sunday.

Both Broome and Japan share Japanese connections and are just off a run in the Breeders' Cup Turf Nov. 6. Broome narrowly missed the win by half a length and Japan finished fourth. Earlier this year, in July, Broome won the Grade 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, then ran fourth later that month at Ascot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. September saw him barely miss clinching the Prix Foy under Frankie Dettori before disappointing in the Arc in 11th place, partnered with Yutaka Take. This time he'll have Ryan Moore in the saddle.

Japan won a G3 over 1,800 meters at Leopardstown in July, before traveling to the U.S. for three starts, all over 2,400 meters, and posted 2-6-4. He'll have four-time winner of the Japan Cup Yutaka Take in the saddle.

The left-handed Tokyo Racecourse is known for its sweeping turns and seemingly endless homestretch with an upward slope starting shortly after the horses turn into the straight. The Japan Cup will be run over the C course, which, with the inner rail moved in 6 meters from the inner rail, measures 25-35 meters across. The same course is just over 2,120 meters around and the Tokyo turf 2,400 meters starts in front of the grandstand at the top of the stretch hill.

Horses will carry 57 kg, with a 2-kg allowance for mares and 3-year-old colts. A 4-kg allowance will be enjoyed by the field's sole 3-year-old filly – Uberleben, who won the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) over the Tokyo 2,400 meters this May while carrying 2 kg more.

Note that although the Japan Cup post time will be the usual 3:40 p.m. for Grade 1 events at the venue, the Japan Cup will be the 12th and last race on Sunday.

# # #

Here's a look at some of the standouts from the Japan team.

Contrail: Following in the steps of his sire Deep Impact, Contrail swept the 2020 3-year-old classics to become Japan's 8th Triple Crown winner. The eighth was also the race that saw him finish out of the winner's circle for the first time, second by a length and a quarter to Almond Eye in last year's Japan Cup. He failed to win in his next two outings, but still, has yet to finish further back than third. The Japan Cup is only his third race since last year's Japan Cup. Next up in April, he encountered heavy ground for the first time and ran third nearly 5 lengths behind winner Lei Papale in the 2,000-meter Grade 1 Osaka Hai. He then returned for a second 1 length behind Efforia in the Tenno Sho (Autumn). The colt's retirement was announced in early October and the Japan Cup later confirmed as his final race. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi, just back from a Breeders' Cup double victory, is the current No. 2 trainer for wins in Japan. Yahagi has yet to win a Grade 1 at home this year and has yet to win the Japan Cup. With farewells impending, he has one last mission to accomplish…or two. “The time passed so quickly. Of course, it's sad. The other day we took on the Breeders' Cup as challengers and that made things easier. But, this time, while I'm looking for results, at the same time, I have to be sure he finishes without mishap. And this makes me very tense.” Tense or not, Yahagi has the coolheaded jockey Yuichi Fukunaga on his side. Fukunaga has yet to win the Japan Cup, but he has bagged three Grade 1s so far this year. If anyone can, Fukunaga, who has ridden all but one of the colt's 10 races thus far, can bring Contrail home safely, and a winner.

Shahryar: With only fives starts thus far, the 3-year-old Shahryar by Deep Impact beat Efforia to the finish by a nose in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) this spring, then started his autumn campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai over 2,200 meters at Chukyo, where races are, like Tokyo, run to the left. He finished 5 lengths of the winner, in the rain and over a sloppy track and rider Yuichi Fukunaga said the colt's responses had been slow and claimed the rain and poor going had prevented him from racing to his best. The Japan Cup will be Shahryar's third start at the venue. Before the Japanese Derby, he had run third to winner Efforia in the Grade 3 Kyodo News Hai (Tokinominoru Kinen), over Tokyo 1,800 meters in February. With Fukunaga taking the reins of Contrail in the Japan Cup, the ride on Shahryar is going to jockey Yuga Kawada, who has ridden the colt once before, to a win of a G3 at Hanshin. Back once again at the site of his Derby victory, Shahryar will attempt to become only the eighth 3-year-old to conquer the Japan Cup and would top both El Condor Pasa (1998) and Almond Eye (2018) to become the first to ace the race with the shortest career yet.

Authority: On Nov. 7, the 4-year-old Authority returned after six months recovering from a fracture and laid claim by 2 1/2 lengths to his second win in a row of the Grade 2 Copa Republica Argentina over the Tokyo 2,500 meters. It was his first win in three starts this year, following two spring runs over marathon distances of 3,400 and 3,200 meters that brought him a second in the Grade 3 Diamond Stakes, but only a dismal 10th in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring). Back at Tokyo, however, where he enjoys a 1-1-2-1 record, the hefty son of Triple Crown winner Orfevre will be able to have room to move as well as be closer to his Miho base. There is little time between races, but Yu Ota, assistant to trainer Tetsuya Kimura, says the colt is looking fine. “He came out of the race well and is very much on his toes. After a week off, he's back at his usual routine. We're trying not to pressure him by demanding too much but we also haven't gone too easy on the work.” Jockey Christophe Lemaire, gunning for his fourth Japan Cup win, will be up.

Aristoteles: Aristoteles, a 4-year-old by 2014 Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia, ran second in the Triple Crown final leg, the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Legers) over Kyoto 3,000 meters. Contrail beat him by a mere neck. He started this year with a win of the Grade 2 American Jockey Club Cup over Nakayama 2,200 meters, then recorded 7-4-9 in his next three, the two most recent Grade 1s. He returned with a promising second by a nose in the Grade 2 Kyoto Daishoten on Oct. 10 under jockey Mirco Demuro. This will be only the second time at Tokyo for the Ritto-based Aristoteles. His first run brought a sixth in the Principal Stakes, a listed race over 2,000 meters last May, but the extra distance this time should be a plus. The colt has had five different riders in his 14 starts thus far, and this time there's another new face expected aboard, young star Takeshi Yokoyama, who has already ridden the winner in three Grade 1s this year.

＃＃＃

Others to watch include:

With two strong showings in Grade 3 company earlier this year, Shadow Diva returned after two months off to capture the Oct. 16 Ireland Trophy Fuchu Himba Stakes, a Grade 2 over the Tokyo 1,800 meters. Though it will be only her second start over the Japan Cup distance, all but one of her five starts over the Tokyo 2,000 have been in the top 3. With the right trip, the Heart's Cry 5-year-old could surprise.

Another possible runner is Sanrei Pocket, a 6-year-old by 2001 Japan Cup winner Jungle Pocket. After returning Oct. 10 for a sixth in the Grade 2 Mainichi Okan, he ended the month with a powerful drive that brought him a fourth in the Tenno Sho (Autumn). He's looking good in trackwork and the extra distance will be welcome.

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Japan Cup: O’Brien Sending Breeders’ Cup Runners Broome, Japan

Ballydoyle master Aidan O'Brien plans to send Breeders' Cup Turf second and fourth-place finishers Broome and Japan to the Nov. 28 Japan Cup, according to racingpost.com. The 1 1/2-mile contest at Tokyo Racecourse is worth ¥648 million (about US$5.6 million), and has also drawn Group 1 winner Grand Glory from the barn of trainer Gianluca Bietolini.

Broome, the 5-year-old son of Australia, won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud back in July. He also ran second in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, and in the Breeders' Cup he finished second, beaten a half-length by Yibir under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Japan, a 5-year-old son of Galileo, won a pair of Group 3 races in Europe this season and ran a big second in the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga in August, beaten just a neck by Gufo.

Grand Glory, a 5-year-old daughter of Olympic Glory, won the G1 Prix Jean Romanet and was beaten just a nose in the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc day. The Japan Cup will be the final race of her career.