Ryan Moore attempts to put the gloss on a superb year when he tries to guide Gentildonna to a third consecutive victory in the Japan Cup.
Moore was at the helm 12 months ago when the Sei Ishizaka-trained mare claimed the Grade One over a mile and a half by a nose.
The partnership will renew acquaintances at the Tokyo circuit on Sunday, with Ishizaka in high spirits in what could be Gentildonna's swansong.
The trainer said: "Ryan Moore rode her for fast work on November 19 and she moved as she always does.
"Moore said he thought she felt good and better than last year.
"Moore has ridden the world over and has the results to show for it, but he's a man of few words - no doubt because he's concentrating on the racing. He has a very good grasp of Gentildonna.
"This will either be her last race or she'll have one more, but, in either case, the plan is to retire her at the end of this year.
"She has always got good results at Tokyo and I'm expecting her to do well this time, too. It's a strong line-up so I'm looking forward to seeing how good she'll do."
Irish interests are spiked by the presence of Trading Leather, trained in County Carlow by Jim Bolger. The Godolphin-owned four-year-old won the 2013 Irish Derby and has continually held his own in good company.
Regular jockey Kevin Manning believes the Japan Cup should ideally suit the son of Teofilo.
He said: "He's a very straightforward horse and he gets the trip well. He's a pretty straightforward horse, as far as I'm concerned.
"He didn't get his ideal ground probably in any run that he's had this year. He's really a good quick-ground horse and he just didn't really have the conditions that suit him all season.
"I think he's at his peak. He's been putting up very high-class performances with some very, very top-class horses. He's in top form and he feels very good."
German hope Ivanhowe claimed the scalp of Sea The Moon at Baden-Baden in September but struggled in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe a month later.
He did, however, return to his best at the highest level at Munich on November 1 when he won the Grosser Preis von Bayern by two and a half lengths.
Trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho said: "Although he is a horse that has a lot of speed, it takes time for him to pick up. He prefers to sit in the back before demonstrating a good turn of foot.
"This horse performs better on softer going, so it would be ideal if it rains on Sunday. I think he's suited well to this distance."
