3 minute read

As an apéretif for the big one on Sunday there is the Hanshin Cup on Saturday.

This is G2 over 1400m and looks like a jockeys contest as much as anything, with Mame Coche on 3.9 the mount of Yuga Kawada, Aguri on 4.1 the mount of Chrisophe Lemaire and Grenadier Guards on 5.9 the ride of Ryan Moore.

And then it's up to Nakayama for one of the biggest days on the Japanese racing calendar.  The first ten runners are chosen by popular vote and even with the first two being absent – Equinox having retired and Liberty Island on holidays, there's a very competitive field with a win from any of the first seven runners not liable to cause shock waves.

At present the Morning Line has Justin Palace on top on 4.4 with T. Yokoyama riding. Next comes Do Deuce on 5.1 with Yutaka Take on board.  Then Through Seven Seas is on 5.6 with Ikezoe the jockey, Titleholder 7.3 with K. Yokoyama riding, Soi Oriens 7.4 with Kawada riding, Stars on Earth 7.6 and Lemaire on board and 8.2 for Tastieri and Ryan Moore.

The Arima Kinen is only second to the Japan Cup in terms of prize money but it is also a chance for the next group of horses to show if they are ready to step up to somewhere near the level established by Equinox.  Those are big horse shoes to fill.