The 37th Japan Cup will be run at Fuchu, Western Tokyo, on Sunday with 13 locals and 4 invaders lining up.

Last year’s winner Kitasan Black will start favourite, has drawn an excellent gate in 4 and will be very hard to beat.

However there are 16 horses who will be trying very hard to do just that. And there are several “races within the race” going on at the same time.

The two considered the most likely to challenge the champ are this year’s Derby winner Rey d’Oro who will have current leading jockey Christophe Lemaire in the irons, and Satono Crown, current holder of the Hong Kong Vase title and a close second to Kitasan Black in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in the slop at Tokyo last outing. He’s going to be ridden by “Group 1” Mirco Demuro who is going for his 3rd consecutive Group 1 victory. While it is rare for 3yos to win this race, Rey d’Oro will have a weight advantage over his older rivals.

Other runners with good chances include Cheval Grande, a 5yo son of Heart’s Cry. He was a close third in last year’s Cup and this year has Australian Jockey Hugh Bowman riding and they will come out of Gate 1.

Last year’s Derby winner Makahiki missed last year’s Cup because he was sent to Japan to run in the Arc. He won the Prix Niel but the Arc was a bridge too far for the 3yo. He’s been in reasonable form this year but being by Deep Impact he should be doing better and if he does could be capable of causing a surprise.

The Oaks winner Soul Stirring is a very promising filly being by Frankel out of Stacelita, a stellar pedigree indeed. She’s had 8 starts for 5 wins and a third but in open company she should be considered a work in progress. Cristian Demuro has the ride and they have gate 8.

Generally the invaders have their work cut out for them here – between the travel and no opportunity to have a lead-up race on the tricky Fuchu track they have those disadvantages to overcome. This year the four invaders have several things going for them if they can handle the pace of the Japanese runners.

Idaho represents Coolmore and he’s come in late but seems to be adapting well. By Galileo he’s had previous overseas experience in North America. He ran 4th in the Canadian International at Woodbine, which his team now admit probably came too soon after a tough run in the Arc. He won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. He’s a full brother to Highland Reel but may not have his brother’s fighting spirit. Ryan Moore rides and while they have gate 14 that’s not all bad as it has produced the most winners of the Cup.

Germany is represented by two runners – Iquitos, who raced here last year and finished 7th, and Guignol who seems to be able to hold Iquitos according to their previous meetings. Guignol will be ridden by his regular jockey Filip Minarik who has ridden in the race a couple of times, and Iquitos will be in the hands of Italian jockey Daniele Porcu. Iquitos will come out of gate 6 and Guignol gate 3.

And then there is our Boom Time, the Caulfield Cup winner. His connections feel that the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup was just too far for him but he should be much more comfortable back at 2400. Trainer David Hayes won the Japan Cup with the late and very fondly remembered Better Loosen Up, and Cory Parish who rode him to victory in the Melbourne Cup knows the horse well. He’s looking very fit and while he may not be quite at the level of the top three locals, he’s a strong horse with a good finish and could be in the money. He’s got Gate 10 which will give Parish options of where to sit in the race.

The weather is beautiful and Sunday is expected to have a bit of cloud and a top of 17!