Japan Cup
| Grade 1 race | |
  ジャパンカップ (Japan Kappu) Japan's most prestigious horse race | |
| Location | Tokyo Racecourse Fuchū,Tokyo,Japan |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Website | Japan Cup - Racing Information |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2400 meters (About 12 furlongs /1+1⁄2miles) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | 3-y-o & Up, Thoroughbreds (safety factor: 18 horses; up to ten foreign-trained starters are allowed in the race) |
| Weight | 3-y-o 56 kg \ 4-y-o & up 58kg Allowances 2 kg forfilliesandmares 2 kg forS. Hemisphere3-y-o |
| Purse | ¥1,085,000,000 (as of 2023) 1st:¥ 500,000,000 |
| Bonuses | Additional money awarded if winner won in qualified international races (see below) plus ¥3,500,000 to the winning owner Winner ofTenno Sho(Autumn),Japan Cup,Arima Kinen[1] Domestic:¥ 200,000,000 International:¥ 100,000,000 |
TheJapan Cup(ジャパンカップ,Japan Kappu,JPN G-1)is one of the most prestigioushorse racesin Japan. It is contested on the last Sunday of November, post time of 15:40 atTokyo RacecourseinFuchu, Tokyoat a distance of 2400 meters (about1+1⁄2miles) run under weight for age conditions with a maximum of 18 horses on turf (grass). With a purse of ¥1,085 million (about US$8.3 million), the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.[2]
The Japan Cup is an invitational event. During a relatively short history, the race has established itself as an international contest with winners from Japan, North America, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy.
The Japan Cup has produced some of the most memorable finishes seen in Japanese racing. Along with thePrix de l'Arc de Triomphe,Melbourne Cupand theBreeders' Cup,the race ranks as one of the great end-of-year events.
TheJapan Racing Associationestablished the Japan Cup as an international invitational race in order for local racehorses to have the opportunity to compete against horses of an international calibre and to promote goodwill within the racing community worldwide.
Purse
[edit]With theeconomic crisis of 2008,the Japanese yen went under 100 yen per dollar, which makes the Japan Cup the world's second richest turf horse race, after the Melbourne Cup (and third richest horse race of any kind, after theDubai World Cup), passing the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which in 2008 was the world's richest turf race.
(Purse value for 2023-onwards running)[3]
Total JPN ¥1,085,000,000 (about US$8.3 million)
- 1st JPN ¥500,000,000 (about US$3.8 million)
- 2nd JPN ¥200,000,000 (about US$1.5 million)
- 3rd JPN ¥130,000,000 (about US$992,000)
- 4th JPN ¥75,000,000 (about US$572,000)
- 5th JPN ¥50,000,000 (about US$381,000)
Bonuses
[edit]Bonuses include extra money added to the pot of the Japan Cup winner, particularly horses trained outside Japan.[4]
In 2012 running:
- If a foreign-based horse triumphs in one of the following races that year, and finished above third in Japan Cup, A bonus of 80, 32, or 20 million (in JPN ¥) will be added to prize money respectively, in accordance to their finishing position.
- If a foreign-based horse won one of the following races that year, they are granted early invitation to the race. The above bonus money will apply if they finished above third in Japan cup:
- If a foreign-based horse finished above second the following races that year, they are granted an early invitation to the race. The above bonus money will apply if they are the winner of the respective races and finished above third in Japan Cup:
- If a horse belonged to JRA finished above third in both Japan Cup AND the followingArima Kinen,at most 50 million (in JPN ¥) prize pot will be given out.
- If a horse finished first in that year'sTenno Sho (Autumn),Japan Cup and Arima Kinen. They will receive a Triple Crown bonus of JPN ¥200,000,000 for Japanese-bred horse, and JPN ¥100,000,000 for non-Japanese bred horse.
In the past, theTakarazuka Kinen,as well as the previous Japan cup were bonus criteria, but no longer nowadays. The same applies to the entry right to Arima Kinen for foreign-based winners (Currently they can directly enter the race).
Race history
[edit] | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(January 2019) |
The inaugural running in 1981 was restricted to horses trained in Japan, the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India, as well as ones that were specifically invited. An American mare triumphed as five-year-oldMairzy Doates,trained byJohn Fultonand partnered byCash Asmussen,came home a length in front of the Canadian-trained Frost King, with The Very One, another from America, in third.
A year later restrictions on entry were abolished and the best horses from around the world were invited and the Japan Cup remains an invitational race.
There was again an American-trained victor in 1982, with three-year-oldHalf Icedgetting the better of a thrilling battle with French filliesAll AlongandApril Runby a couple of necks, with Stanerra a length back in fourth.
Stanerra,owned and trained by Irish retail millionaireFrank Dunne,returned to Japan in 1983, having enjoyed a brilliant season in Europe which included winning both theHardwicke Stakesand thePrince of Wales's StakesatRoyal Ascot.The tough and courageous mare was partnered by regular jockeyBrian Rousein the third running of the Japan Cup and proved a head too strong for the Japanese-trainedKyoei Promise.It was a very close finish as Esprit Du Nord from France was another head back in third.
The race was officially ranked as International Grade 1 in 1984 (prior 1984 there is no Grading in all races in Japan). The race was highly anticipated as being the first showdown between twoTriple Crownsin Japanese racing history. The Japanese did enjoyed a first home success, through neither two Triple Crown -Mr. C.B.andSymboli Rudolf- were winner, instead unfavoured four-year-old coltKatsuragi Ace,which defeated Bedtime, trained in Britain byMajor Dick Hern,by a length and a half, took the title.
There was further Japanese success in 1985, with the previous year's thirdSymboli Rudolfdefeating Rocky Tiger in good style.
Jupiter Islandbecame the first British raider to capture the Japan Cup the following year of 1986 when theClive Brittain-trained seven-year-old just got the better of compatriotAllez Milord,trained byGuy Harwood,by a head under an inspired ride fromPat Eddery.
The French made their mark in 1987 when theRobert Collet-trained andAlain Lequeux-riddenLe Glorieuxcame home in front, while the Americans struck for a third time in 1988 with theRobert J. Frankel-trainedPay The Butler,the mount ofChris McCarron.
In 1989 and 1990, horses from New Zealand and Australia came out on top. The 1989 renewal fell to the New Zealand six-year-old mareHorlickswhen scoring by a neck in world record time for 2400 meters. A year laterBetter Loosen Upstruck for Australian trainerDavid Hayesby a head from French-trained Ode, with another head to Cacoethes, trained by Guy Harwood, who had gone clear only to be caught close home. These two victories did much to promote Southern Hemisphere racing in the international arena.
Veteran American trainerCharlie Whittinghamsent outGolden Pheasantto win in 1991. Owned by theLos Angeles Kingsice hockeyteam ownerBruce McNalland his superstar player,Wayne Gretzky,Golden Pheasant gave the USA a fourth Japan Cup victory, while the Japanese took the next three renewals withTokai Teio(1992),Legacy World(1993) andMarvelous Crown(1994).
There had been a number of German challengers for the Japan Cup over the years but it was not until 1995 that a horse from that country proved successful, with five-year-oldLandotriumphing under South African-born but British-based jockeyMichael Roberts.
British trainerMichael Stoutelanded both the 1996 and 1997 Japan Cups with the supremely tough and talented international campaignersSingspiel- by a nose - andPilsudski- by a neck - respectively.
Singspiel, owned and bred bySheikh Mohammed,won a total of five Group/Grade One events during his career, including the 1996Canadian International Stakesand the 1997Dubai World Cup.
Pilsudski's victory in 1997 came on his final appearance and was his sixth Group/Grade One victory. He took up stallion duties in Japan but moved to Ireland in 2004.
The Japanese then struck back with victories forEl Condor Pasa(1998),Special Week(1999) andT M Opera O(2000).
El Condor Pasa led home a Japanese one, two, three in the 18th running - the first time this had happened.
TheSunday SilencecoltSpecial Week,third in 1998, gave Japan's highest profile jockeyYutaka Takehis first success in the Japan Cup which is watched by enthusiastic crowds of over 150,000. The Hong Kong-trainedIndigenousran a brilliant race to be second with 1998Epsom DerbywinnerHigh-Rise,racing forGodolphin,in third and 1999Prix de l'Arc de TriomphewinnerMontjeufourth.
T M Opera O went into the 2000 Japan Cup unbeaten that year and emerged with his record intact, scoring by a neck from Meisho Doto with Godolphin's fast-finishingFantastic Lighta nose back in third.
Jungle Pocketcontinued the Japanese run of success in 2001, with the winner of theTokyo Yushunsweeping home under French jockeyOlivier Peslierto beat T M Opera O by a neck. The Japanese also had the next three withGolan,from Sir Michael Stoute's Newmarket stable, in sixth.
In 2002 the Group One contest moved toNakayama Racecoursewhile Tokyo Racecourse was being renovated. The distance was shortened to 2200 meters (about1+3⁄8miles) on the right-handed outer loop course.
Therein the Italian-trained challengerFalbrav,ridden byFrankie Dettori,was a nose too good for the American raiderSarafanin another thrilling finish, with Symboli Kris S a neck away in third. It was Dettori's second Japan Cup success as he had previously won on Singspiel in 1996. Falbrav subsequently transferred from Italy to Newmarket, England-based trainerLuca Cumaniand went on to take five moreGroup Onecontests in 2003.
For the 2003 renewal, the great contest returned to Fuchu and was won by the Japanese-trainedTap Dance City,who triumphed on soft ground by an amazing nine lengths from That's The Plenty. Symboli Kris S was again third.
The prize stayed in Japan again in 2004.Zenno Rob Royled home a Japanese 1-2-3 with French ace Olivier Peslier in the saddle. Zenno Rob Roy's Japan Cup success was the middle leg in a run of three Group One wins in Japan.
Aphoto finishdecided the 2005 winner, asAlkaasednarrowly beatHeart's Cryfor the cup by a nose. This finish gave Heart's Cry his third near miss in a G-1 race. The previous year's winner Zenno Rob Roy placed third, beatingLincolnby a nose. Horlick's world record from 1989 was also broken, with an incredible time of 2m 22.1s.
Deep Impactwon the 2006 running in the penultimate race of his career, helping theSunday Silencecolt to his second consecutiveHorse of the Yearaward in Japan.
In the 2009 edition, another photo finish decided the winner, in which the five-year-old mareVodkaon her third Japan Cup try with theFrenchjockeyChristophe Lemairewon by a nose over the 2008Kikuka ShowinnerOken Bruce Lee,at a time of 2 minutes and 22.4 seconds, the third-fastest Japan Cup ever run at the standard 2400-meter distance. Vodka's win would make her the 2nd-richest racehorse in Japan and the world; the two-timeBreeders' Cup TurfwinnerConduitwould finish 4th on his final race of his career. Vodka placed 4th in the 2007 running toAdmire Moonand 3rd in the 2008 running toScreen Hero,in which the latter ran 13th in the 2009 race.
The 2010 running ended in controversy when favouriteBuena Vistawas first past the post, only to be relegated to second behind Rose Kingdom as a result of light interference in the straight. The decision caused much debate around the world as to whether the interference was sufficient to warrant a change of placings. Although Buena Vista later won the Japan Cup in 2011.
The 2012 running was another Triple-Crown showdown between 2011 Triple CrownOrfevreand 2012 Fillies Triple CrownGentildonna,28 years since Mr. C.B. and Symboli Rudolf. It ended in another controversy again as Gentildonna, which was first past the post, bumped Orfevre off the line when they are battle on the straight line in a 1-2 finish. The following stewards inquiry decided Orfevre did being interfered by Gentildonna, but only her jockeyYasunari Iwatareceived a 2-day suspension, the result would still stand. Gentildonna became the first three year old filly to win the Japan Cup.
In the 2013 running of the race Gentildonna won again, rendering the filly to be not only the only horse to have won back to back victories in the race, but also the only horse to have won the Japan Cup twice.[5]
The 2014 edition of the cup saw triumph ofEpiphaneiaa horse which went off at 15–1, withJust A Waycoming in second to place andSpielbergcoming in third to show.[6]Among the other horses the stallion bested was then five year old filly, Gentildonna, who was attempting to win the race for a third consecutive time.[7]
In 2015, Shonan Pandora, yet another Japan Cup champion sired by the famed stallion and stud Deep Impact, became the seventh mare to take the trophy.[8]
In the 2016 running of the race with a seventeen horse field, the Japanesestallion,Kitasan Black,ridden byYutaka Take,was triumphant at the Cup with Sounds of Earth placing second and Grand Cheval coming in third.[9][10][11]
In 2017, Cheval Grand which finished 3rd in the cup the year prior returned to win the race, WhileRey de Orotook second breaking late to beat out the favorite and defending champion Kitisan Black' who finished 3rd. Meanwhile, the win secured the number one spot in the year's Longines World's best jockey rankings for Grand Cheval's rider Hugh Bowman.[12]
The 2018 running of the Japan was won in a record time of 2:20:60 by the fillyAlmond Eyeon firm turf. Ridden by jockeyChristophe LemaireAlmond Eye bested the previous track record set in 2005 byAlkaasedof 2:22:10 by more than 1 1/2 seconds. Rounding out the top three finishers Pacesetter Kiseki placed second 1 3/4 lengths in back of the champion filly and Suave Richard finished third another 3 1/2 lengths in back of Pacesetter.[13]
The 2020 Japan Cup was the biggest clash of champions in the race's history, with three Japan Triple Crown winners going head to head, two of them undefeated. The 2018Japanese Fillies Triple CrownwinnerAlmond Eyewas the favorite, the undefeated 2020Japanese Triple CrownwinnerContrailwas the second favorite, and the undefeated 2020Japanese Fillies Triple CrownwinnerDaring Tactwas the third favorite. Almond Eye won the race for a second time, with Contrail second and Daring Tact third. It gave Contrail and Daring Tact their first defeats but was a fitting final race of Almond Eye's racing career.
Winners
[edit]1The 2002 race took place atNakayama Racecourseover a distance of 2,200 metres.
2Rose Kingdom finished 2nd to subsequentJapanese Horse of the YearBuena Vistabut was promoted as a result of a disqualification.
Trivia
[edit]The Japan Cup is one of the graded races in the horse simulation gameDerby Owners Club.
See also
[edit]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Netkeiba:[14][15]
- 1981en,1982en,1983en,1984en,1985en,1986en,1987en,1988en,1989en,1990en,1991en,1992en,1993en,1994en,1995en,1996en,1997en,1998en,1999en,2000en,2001en,2002en,2003en,2004en,2005en,2006en,2007en,2008en,2009en,2010en,2011en,2012en,2013en,2014en,2015en,2016en,2017en,2018en,2019en,2020en,2021en,2022en,2023en
- ^"Đồng nhất niên độ に bổn hội が định める cạnh tẩu に ưu thắng した mã に đối する bao thưởng kim giao phó cơ chuẩn"(PDF)(in Japanese).Japan Racing Association.
- ^"Prize Money & Bonuses｜Japan Cup｜Horse Racing in Japan".Horse Racing in Japan.Retrieved2019-01-11.
- ^[1]The Japan Association for International Horse Racing.
- ^"Prize Money & Bonuses - Japan Cup - Racing Information - Horse Racing in Japan".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-01-24.Retrieved2008-10-26.
- ^"Gentildonna Posts Repeat Victory in Japan Cup".BloodHorse.com.Retrieved2019-01-11.
- ^Bob Kieckhefer (30 November 2014)."Epiphaneia Proves Easy Winner of Japan Cup".BloodHorse.com.Retrieved30 November2014.
- ^"Epiphaneia Takes Japan Cup; Gentildonna Fourth".Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.2014-11-30.Retrieved2019-01-11.
- ^"Shonan Pandora triumphs in 2015 Japan Cup".Retrieved2017-01-16.[dead link]
- ^"Kitasan Black romps to victory in Japan Cup".The Japan Times Online.2016-11-27.ISSN0447-5763.Retrieved2019-01-11.
- ^"Kyodo News+ | Japan's leading news agency".Kyodo News+.Retrieved2019-01-11.
- ^Heffernan, Shayne (2016-11-28)."Kitasan Black Conquers Japan, Ready for Dubai and Paris".Live Trading News.Retrieved2019-01-11.
- ^Sheehan, Luke."Bowman wins Japan Cup on Cheval Grand".racing.com.Retrieved2019-01-11.
- ^"Filly Superstar Almond Eye Takes Japan Cup In Record Time".Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.2018-11-25.Retrieved2019-01-11.
- ^"ジャパンC".Netkeiba.
- ^"Japan Cup".Netkeiba.