THE Queen Elizabeth II Cup was originally run as the final leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown over 2,400 metres.
In 1976, since the inception of the Shuka Sho (fillies’ equivalent to the St Leger) it was established as the QEII and run over the reduced ditance of 2,200 metres at Kyoto Racecourse.
This year the QEII was held at Hanshin Racecourse. A large renovation project is underway at Kyoto Racecourse which will keep the western Japanese track closed until well into 2021. The Group 1 contest made a similar switch in 1979 when the current grandstand in Kyoto was under construction.
Three Group 1 winners went to post to contest the €870,000 first-place prize and the 2019 winner, Lucky Lilac, was sent to post as the 2/1 favourite to retain her crown. In the hands of the ever-in-form Christophe Lemaire, the duo enjoyed a perfect trip in fifth and sixth throughout, taking up the lead as the field turned into the home straight.
However, Lucky Lilac had to show every bit of her usual tenacity to hold on from the fast-finishing Salacia. Under an all-out drive from Lemaire, Lucky Lilac passed the post the winner by a neck. Loves Only You finished a further neck behind in third. She became the fourth mare in the race’s history to win back-to-back editions.
The third produce out of dual American Grade 1 dirt winner Lilacs And Lace (Flower Alley), Lucky Lilac is from the first crop of Triple Crown winner Orfevre. She is now a four-time Group 1 winner with earnings in excess of €6 million.
Despite producing two Group 1 winners from his first crop, including classic winner Epoca d’Oro, Orfevre has lacked a consistent volume of winners which has seen Japanese breeders shun the son of Stay Gold. From a career high of 256 mares in 2015, he covered 52 mares in 2019.
Orfevre has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance over the last 12 months, consistently producing winners across all levels and on both surfaces in the JRA. He currently sits in fourth place in the overall sire rankings with 150 individual winners. A total of 165 mares visited the enigmatic 12-year-old in 2020.
THE Japan Cup, in any racing year in the JRA, is one of, if not the biggest race on the calendar in terms of prestige, international interest and popularity with the greater racing public. This year, marks the 40th running of the 2,400-metre contest and it is likely to be the most anticipated renewal in the race’s history.
Three goliaths of Japanese racing are set to compete on the turf of Tokyo Racecourse next Sunday. Reigning and unbeaten Triple Crown winners Contrail and Daring Tact will line up with the darling of the JRA, Almond Eye.
Almond Eye became the first JRA-trained horse to win eight Group 1 races when winning the Tenno Sho on November 1st.
Not since the exploits of Deep Impact has there been such hype behind a horse as there is with Contrail. To date, that level of interest he receives has been equally justified by spectacular performances.
The son of Deep Impact is perceived to be the heir apparent to his famed sire both as a racehorse and a potential stallion.
Daring Tact completes the trio in what will be the most watched race held in the JRA in 2020. A €100,000 purchase as a yearling, the daughter of Epipheneia is unbeaten in five starts including a clean sweep of the fillies’ classics.
Her most recent start was a commanding performance in the Shuka Sho after a five month lay-off and returning 14kg heavier than her previous race weight.
While it is very much being billed as a three-horse race, the remainder of the likely field is far from devoid of considerable talent.
Dual Group 1 winner Saturnalia and 2019 Japan Cup runner-up Curren Bouquetd’or appear the most like outsiders to get involved. International interest comes in the form of durable Group 1 performer Way To Paris.