The Shanghai Race Club

It is a sign of the growing influence of Japanese racing on a world stage that the leading home contenders for their main prize are already well known to followers of the International racing scene.

Leading the home defence is the remarkable mare, Buena Vista (left), who has won five Grade 1s and has been runner up in six.

She is yet to officially win a Japan Cup, although many will feel that was the rightful winner last year – as she passed the post two lengths clear of the others, only to be controversially disqualified and placed second. The reason for her disqualification was down to her rider, Christophe Soumillon, drifting across the track in the final furlong and interfering with the runner up and eventual winner, Rose Kingdom. To an impartial observer there is almost no doubt that Buena Vista was the best horse on the day and she deserved to win the prize. Not that her owners, Sunday Racing Co Ltd would have been too bothered – as Rose Kingdom (who is also on target for this year’s Japan Cup) is also owned by them.

This wasn’t the only time that Buena Vista has been unfortunate in her career. She was considered unlucky by many not to land the Dubai Duty Free back in 2010 when she suffered a troubled passage behind Dar Re Mi – and she agonizingly failed to land last year’s Arima Kinen by just a nose – the shortest possible margin by which a horse can lose a race.

The horse that beat her that day? Well, if Buena Vista is the queen of Japanese racing, then her old rival Victoire Pisa (left) is undoubtedly the king. He of course recorded one of the most significant successes for Japanese racing on the international stage when winning the 2011 Dubai World Cup under a masterful ride from Mirco Demuro.

So, what of their chances in the Japan Cup this year? Buena Vista has of course been there and done it in the race and she heads into the contest in decent form having run well when 4th behind Tosen Jordan in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) over 10 furlongs. The Japan Cup distance of 12 furlongs almost certainly suits her better and she is likely to have been specifically targeted at this contest.

Victoire Pisa meanwhile has been rested since his Dubai victory and comes into the race as a fresh horse. Although he has won over further than 12 furlongs, it is possible that he is at his very best over shorter distances and with no recent run under his belt, he will have to be at his absolute peak to beat Buena Vista.

The other Japanese contender that will be familiar to students of the major world horse racing trophies is Hiruno D’Amour. Masafumi Hirukawa’s horse was sent over to Europe for a tilt at the Prix De l’Arc De Triomphe. He ran a fine race in his trial race, the Prix Foy, where he finished an honourable second to Sarafina, but could only manage 10th place in the race itself. Clearly the return to his homeland will have to bring about significant improvement if he is to beat the likes of Danedream and Buena Vista in Tokyo.

And what of of the other leading Japanese contenders? Tosen Jordan has to enter calculations on his defeat of Buena Vista. It is tempting to feel that the mare will finish ahead of him in the Japan Cup over 12 furlongs, but it is worth noting that Tosen Jordan’s winning time was exceptional last time and he is proven over 13 furlongs, so he must rate as a serious contender.

Later this week: The final field for the Japan Cup, with the verdict on where the biggest prize in Asian racing is heading.

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