THE Group 1 action comes thick and fast in Japan. Following on from the Queen Elizabeth II Cup last week, and ahead of next week’s Japan Cup, Hanshin Racecourse is again the venue for the Mile Championship.

The three-year-old Lauda Sion looks the likely favourite and he won this year’s Grade 1 NHK Mile Cup for three-year-olds, and finished second in his one run since, the Grade 2 Fuji Stakes over a mile at Tokyo in October. Veteran rider Yutaka Take is on board. Gran Alegria, a four-year-old filly by Deep Impact, has already won two Group 1s, the Yasuda Kinen, beating Almond Eye, and the Sprinters Stakes. A third big win is well within her grasp.