3 minute read
Usually there would already be queues at the entrance gates but at Fuchu it was eerily quiet.
No public can attend which is such a shame as this race has enormous popularity with the fans gathering around the parade ring with their banners supporting their favourites.
And to add insult to injury it looks to be one of the best cups since probably Deep Impact 14 years ago.
This year's edition is the challenge of the younger brigade to the established ruler of the turf, the incredible Almond Eye won this race two years ago in course record time. She is actually not in the red yet – 2.2 – but that may change. She is ticking so many boxes and it is her last race and if she wins she will hold the record for the number of G1 races. Christophe Lemaire rides as usual. They have been a formidable partnership.
The two challengers are both triple crown runners and unbeaten to date. They will be facing the big boys (and girls) for the first time but both have won here over this trip – Contrail winning the Derby and Daring Tact the Oaks. At the moment in Japan they are on 3.0 and 3.5 respectively.
Curren Boutiqued'or is a 4yo filly and a stablemate of Almond Eye. She was second in this race last year and her race performances are amazingly consistent with 2-2-2-3-2-1-4-1-3-2. If Almond Eye had not been around it could have had a few more 1s in it. She's drawn gate 1 which is a successful gate and is on 25.5.
Glory Vase hasn't done this race before (in fact she hasn't raced in Tokyo)– she went to Hong Kong last year and won the International Vase. He's a 5yo by Deep Impact and has drawn the widest gate in 15, but that isn't necessarily a problem in a 2400m race at Fuchu. He's on 17.5. He's not entered in the HK Vase this year but that race has a very ordinary field and one wonders if they would supplement him if he did well here.
Way To Paris is the only International in the field. He's trained by Andrea Marcialis who has booked compatriot Mirco Demuro for the ride. Way To Paris has raced mainly in France and did well in a couple of Grand Prix this year which brought the 7yo grey to the attention of the Japanese. This will also be his last race as he is booked to go to stud in Ireland after this.
However he is an outsider here – on 95.5.
World Premiere is an interesting runner. Obviously very talented he is very lightly raced and one presumes that he has had "issues'. His last start was in the Arima Kinen at the end of last year. Yutaka Take has the ride. While they do excellent preparation of their horses in Japan, to be 11 months off and then come into a very competitive G1 is a huge ask. He does have a great finish though and so he's on 38.4.
The weather forecast is cool (top of 11) with light winds and sunny intervals.
