All eyes turn to Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday for what is shaping up to be one of, it not the, most exciting edition of the time-honoured Japan Cup.
Contrail, Almond Eye and Daring Tact – all Triple Crown winners in their own right – headline the top of the market as they hope to claim a share in the $6.21 million prize-money.
In what is also Almond Eye’s retirement race, punters are faced with a handful of tough decisions to make with value on offer right across the board.
To help you out, we’ve cast our eyes over each and every runner in our 2020 Japan Cup Preview below!
Contrail
Contrail is unbeaten in seven career starts and is one of three Triple Crown winners lining up in this year’s Japan Cup field.
The three-year-old son of Deep Impact has won four Grade 1 races, beginning with the Hopeful Stakes (2000m) at Nakayama to cap off his two-year-old prep last December.
He returned to the races in May with a narrow win in the Japanese 2000 Guineas, a comfortable second-up win in the Japanese Derby, followed by a last start win in the Japanese St Leger to complete the Triple Crown.
Yoshito Yahagi’s colt has opened a short-priced favourite in each of his seven starts to date, and if he adds a Japan Cup to his resume on Sunday, is more than likely a shoo-in for Horse of the Year.
Almond Eye
Trainer Sakae Kunieda has decided to make the Japan Cup Almond Eye’s swan song as she hopes to claim the prize-money for a second time on Sunday.
Joining Contrail and Daring Tact, the champion mare is one of the three Triple Crown winners in the field and the only Japanese-trained horse to have won eight Group/Grade 1 victories on the turf.
Similar to 2018, she’s had only one lead-up run in preparation where she wound up with a big run on the outside to win the Tenno Sho (Autumn) over Danon Premium.
After skipping this race last year, one final triumph over two of the world’s top three-year-old’s would be a fitting send off.
Daring Tact
Daring Tact swept the Fillies’ Triple Crown last month by winning the Shuka Sho following back-to-back wins in the 1000 Guineas and the Japanese Oaks earlier in the year.
The lightly-raced daughter of Epiphaneia will put her unbeaten record on the line on Sunday as she prepares to face the older horses for the first time.
She’s also looking to follow in Almond Eye’s footsteps by becoming the first filly since to go on and win the Japan Cup after securing the Triple Crown.
The three-year-old has won her last three starts by a combined three lengths and her best is certainly good enough to win a race of this quality.
Glory Vase
Glory Vase achieved Group 1 glory to cap off his four-year-old season, winning the appropriately named Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin by a comfortable three lengths.
The son of Deep Impact made his presence felt winning the Group 2 Kyoto Daishoten last start where he beat home Sunday’s rival Kiseki by three quarters of a length, and with five wins to his name from 12 starts, he’s definitely worth a look at each-way odds.
Curren Bouquetd’or
Almond Eye’s four-year-old stablemate is yet to win a Group 1, but she has come extremely close at this level since finishing runner-up to Suave Richard in last year’s Japan Cup by half a length.
The daughter of Deep Impact returned to the races to run second in the Group 2 Kyoto Kinen back in February before finding the placings again first-up in the The Sankei Sho in September.
She’s now finished runner-up in five of her last six runs, and off last year’s effort, we’ll know she’ll be in this for a long way.
World Premiere
World Premiere hasn’t raced at all this year, but his best is certainly good enough to win a race of this magnitude.
The son of Deep Impact won the Group 1 Japanese St Leger last year before finishing third to 2019 Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux in the Arima Kinen.
As the odds suggest, it’s difficult to get a read on him with a year between runs, but a bold showing would certainly not surprise.
You Can Smile
You Can Smile is yet to run a bad race and he is sure to take big improvement off his first-up run when 2.5 lengths fourth in the Group 2 Copa Republica Argentina at Kyoto three weeks ago.
The son of King Kamehameha was far from disgraced in this race last year finishing fourth lengths fifth behind Suave Richard.
He’s found the money in 10 of his 17 starts to date and might just be worth a look in the minors.
Kiseki
Kiseki brings race fitness into this contest after finishing runner-up in the Group 2 Kyoto Daishoten prior to a last start fifth in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) three weeks ago.
He’s struggled to repeat the performance that saw him win the Group 1 Japanese St Leger in 2017, but it’s worth noting he has placed in fie G1’s since including a runner-up to Almond Eye in this race two years ago.
Japanese fans have a strong opinion of this horse, so don’t be surprised if he firms in the market.
Mikki Swallow
Mikki Swallow is resuming off a 61-day let-up after running on for fifth first-up in the Group 2 Sankei Sho All Comers last start at Nakayama.
The six-year-old won the Group 2 Nikkei Sho three starts back before finding the placings at Group 1 level for the first time in the Tenno Sho (Autumn).
He has struggled at this level in the past though and would need to produce something very special to be a factor.
Crescendo Love
Crescendo Love won the Group 3 Tanbata Sho at Fukushima back in July, but this does appear a significant challenge for the Toru Hayashi-trained gelding.
The four-year-old has never raced at Group 1 level in the past and will likely find this too tough.
Makahiki
Makahiki produced a huge run to finish fourth in this race last year as he prepares for his first run back from a seven month spell.
He typically saves some of his best work for the Japan Cup, but still looks tested here based on his poor performance in The Osaka Hai back in April.
Perform A Promise
Perform A Promise is having his second run back from a spell after finding the line for sixth last month in the Group 2 Kyoto Daishoten.
The old boy has won a Group 3 in the past, but looks unlikely to test some of these.
Taurus Gemini
This is a significant step up in class for Taurus Gemini. Looking to others.
Way to Paris
Way To Paris won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in France back in June but has struggled to go on with it since returning from a spell. Should be better for the run.
Yoshio
Yoshio has done most of his racing amongst easier opposition and looks highly unlikely to factor on Sunday.