Japan Cup (Group 1)

THE pinnacle of Group 1 racing in the land of the rising sun, the Japan Cup, was staged for the 42nd time last Sunday.

Run over 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) at Tokyo Racecourse, it attracted an eclectic field of 18 hopeful participants who lined up in front of just over 53,000 spectators with an increased purse of €5,300,000 on offer.

Historically, the Japan Cup draws crowds in excess of 100,000 people. However, crowd restrictions enforced by the JRA remain in place but continue to be eased in miniscule increments.

Seven foreign-based riders and four international horses were declared as starters giving the Japan Cup a truly international flavour, a characteristic that has been absent in recent years. Leading foreign jockeys included Tom Marquand (UK), Hollie Doyle (UK), Damian Lane (AUS) and Cristian Demuro (FR).

Not for the first time in Japanese racing, it was the visiting Ryan Moore who would provide domestic fans with a memorable finish. Drawn in stall six, Moore partnered Vela Azul for trainer Kunihiko Watanabe.

Impossible path

Racing in midfield behind a sedate pace, Moore entered the home straight behind a wall of horses. He managed to weave a seemingly impossible path to surge clear in the final strides to pass the post a three-quarters of a length winner.

Best known here for his association with JRA superstars Maurice and Gentildonna, Moore was recording his ninth JRA Group 1 win and a second Japan Cup success. It was a maiden JRA-Group 1 win for trainer Watanabe having entered the JRA training ranks in 2016

Dubai Sheema Classic winner Shayryar finished in second with Weltreisende a further neck behind in third. Daring Tact, Grand Glory and Onesto were the main victims of the pedestrian pace, a rarity for championship races in Japan.

The trio had to endure a hapless trip in Tokyo’s home straight but still managed to make eye-catching progress once finding racing room.

Remarkably, Vela Azul clutched Japan’s most prestigious race on just his sixth start on turf. Debuting in March as a three-year-old, the colt would enjoy a far from illustrious early career, recording two wins from 16 starts on dirt. Vela Azul switched surfaces in March 2022 triggering an eight-month meteoric rise through the JRA turf rankings.

Career high

The JRA handicapper has subsequently given Vela Azul a career-high rating of 123, a leap from his previous best of 112. Both second and third-placed horses received career-high marks.

Best of the foreign-raiders was the classy French-trained Group 1-winner, Grand Glory. Making her second appearance in the Japan Cup, she failed to improve upon her fifth place finish in the 2021 edition, she finished sixth beaten four lengths.

Prior to the race, it was announced that Japanese breeding powerhouse Shadai Farm had purchased the six-year-old mare and confirmed that the daughter of Olympic Glory will retire to the breeding paddock after her Japan Cup engagement.

Jockey Cristian Demuro has become a regular winter fixture in the JRA riding ranks in recent years.

Partnering Japan Cup favourite Shahryar, Demuro held every chance entering the final furlong. Under a strong drive, Shahryar edged left in the closing stages and caused significant interference to Danon Beluga in the hands of Yuga Kawada.

Stewards

Demuro was found guilty of careless riding and banned for four days racing in the JRA. It was his second time in front of the stewards in as many weeks.

Such penalties will have a significant bearing on whether a future short-term licence application will be successful. Race placings remained unchanged.

Vela Azul is out of the two-time JRA winner, Vela Blanca (Kurofune). He is the first Group 1 winner for his sire, 2010 Japan Derby winner, Eishin Flash.

Since retiring, Eishin Flash has failed to retain the early support from Japanese breeders. He now resides at Lex Stud in the Japanese breeding hub of Hokkaido and stood for a fee of €5,500 in 2022.

WHILE much of the post-cup coverage has revolved around Vela Azul’s switch from dirt to turf, racing focus switches to the JRA’s top dirt specialists this weekend.

T O Keynes will go to post as the overwhelming favourite to claim the second of only two dirt Group 1s on the annual JRA fixture list.

Ryan Moore remains in Japan for the nine-furlong Group 1 Champions Cup. He will partner the progressive four-year-old, Gloria Mundi.

THE Group 1 Arima Kinen competes with the Japan Cup and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) for the biggest race day of the year.

This year’s renewal is set to eclipse its closest rivals for popularity as intended runners already have racing fans arguing the likely winner on social media.

Connections of Vela Azul, depending on how the horse recovers from his Cup exploits, have confirmed their intention to run in the 2,500m Arima Kinen.

Horse of the Year contenders Titleholder and Equinox both remain as intended runners. Leading JRA performers Shayhrar, Danon Beluga and Ask Victor More are just a few of the likely recipients of an Arima Kinen entry. The starting line-up is determined by a public vote.