Zac Purton summed it up when he said you could take ten of these horses and put them in any G1 in the world and you’d find the winner.
Zac is in Tokyo to ride in the Super Jockey races although today's rain could have described them as the "Saturated Super Jockeys" after they were introduced to the public under a collection of plastic umbrellas.
This is one of the strongest Japan Cups in many a moon and a win from a number of horses would not be a mega surprise.
At present the market has Harp Star on top on 4.7, Gentildonna 4.9, Just A Way 6.8, Isla Bonita 7.6, Epiphania 9.3, Spielberg 9.5, One And Only 13.1, Denim And Ruby 13.3, Fenomono 16.7, Hit The Target 28.7.
The overseas runners sees Trading Leather on 46.8, Ivanhowe on 49.3, and Up With The Birds on 76.5.
Harp Star ran 6th in the Arc and should probably have finished closer. However it is a big ask for a 3yo to travel to the other side of the world and back again. Nevertheless she is an exceptional filly and will have many more top class wins in the CV before long.
Gentildonna is out to make history if she can win for the third successive time. She is partnered again with Ryan Moore and he’s in top form as well, fresh from his success on Protectionist in the Melbourne Cup.
Just A Way is the highest rated horse in the world at present but there is still a question mark over his ability to run the trip. His breeding says he can get it but so far he’s shown he’s more of a 2000m horse.
Isla Bonita is one that is always thereabouts having finished in the top three in all his starts to date and should probably have won more races than he has. He was favourite for several of these as well. He may be our “roughie”.
Epiphania was one of our favourites earlier in the season and went to Hong Kong for the QEII in April. He was 6th to Spielberg in the Tenno Sho but that was his first start since Hong Kong. Christophe Soumillon will ride so do not be surprised if he runs a vastly improved race.
Spielberg received many complimentary comments after his win in the Tenno Sho. He’s had some leg problems and has been fairly lightly raced but seems to be in good form at present. His draw in gate 15 is not the best but he comes from behind so it shouldn’t matter too much.
One And Only is the Japanese Derby Winner from 2014. He had a well earned spell after the Derby and one his return race but was a fairly average run in the Kikuka Sho, the next leg of the triple crown. The 3000m may have been too much for him and he likes Tokyo so this could see a better showing.
Denim And Ruby was second in this last year but so far this year has failed to show that form.
Fenomeno is an interesting runner. Christophe Lemaire was supposed to ride him but got injured in a fall last week and Yasunari Iwata has picked up the ride and has an incredible record in G1 races. Not the toughest by any means.
Hit The Target will have veteran jockey Yutaka Take in the irons and he has also got a great record in this race having one three of them with arguably his win on Deep Impact being the most impressive. However Hit The Target will have a job to do so here.
