Japan Cup (Group 1)
CALANDAGAN bids to cap a fine year for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and owners the Aga Khan Studs by becoming the first overseas horse for 20 years to win the Japan Cup tomorrow morning (6.40am).
The highlight of the season for the famous Aga Khan colours has been Calandagan, who has embarked on a phenomenal run of form with dual Ascot triumphs in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Champion Stakes.
He would be the first French-trained winner of the Japan Cup since Le Glorieux in 1987 and the the first European victor since Alkaased triumphed for Luca Cumani back in 2005.
“He’s travelled very well and we’re very happy. Stable to stable it was about a 24-hour trip and he took two flights but we brought a companion horse over with him and we’re so pleased we did because otherwise being completely on his own in the quarantine facility could have been quite stressful,” said Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, this week. Calandagan faces a tough task alongside 17 Japanese horses that includes three Japanese Derby winners and seven Grade 1 winners.
The defending home team is headlined by a trio - two three-year-olds, this year’s Japanese Derby winner Croix Du Nord and Tenno Sho (Autumn) winner Masquerade Ball, along with the four-year-old 2024 Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile, winner of this year’s Dubai Sheema Classic.
Croix Du Nord is back from a below par run in the Arc. He had won his Arc prep, the Prix du Prince d’Orange at Longchamp but a wide draw and heavy ground put paid to his Arc bid.
Masquerade Ball returned to the track following his second to Croix Du Nord in the Japanese Derby to clinch the Tenno Sho (Autumn) three weeks ago, his first top-level victory after three previous attempts.
Top-rated of the Japanese horses is 2024 Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile. This year he won the Dubai Sheema Classic at the Meydan in April beating Calandagan by a length and a quarter.
In the International at York, he was only fifth of the six to Ombudsman but his trainer blamed the pacemaker and he also got quite excited beforehand.
Tastiera, winner of the 2023 Japanese Derby, was in good form again in April at Sha Tin with a win in Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup under Damian Lane. He disappointed in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) since.
Durezza was second in a dead-heat with Shin Emperor in last year’s Japan Cup. This year, Durezza was third in the Dubai Sheema Classic, finishing behind Calandagan for the second time, though he was then unplaced in his next two outings.
Others in with a shout are Justin Palace, winner of the 2023 Tenno Sho (Spring) and fifth here last year under Cristian Demuro. He comes off a third in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), while Shin Emperor disappointed at Leopardstown but is reported to be back in better form since his return to Japan.
SELECTION: CROIX DU NORD
Next Best: Danon Decile