Japan Cup updates...

[my miss storm cat]

That's out, unless you have an account.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/RacingInf...3/Default.aspx

Sorry! I tried.

[Alan07]

e-mail me for a link

al.gobbi@verizon.net

[jaripeo]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

That's out, unless you have an account.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/RacingInf...3/Default.aspx

Sorry! I tried.

Hey, I very greatfull for your support. Thanks to all.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by jaripeo

Hey, I very greatfull for your support. Thanks to all.

Nice picture on Racing Post.....

You need to be logged in to see it but registration is free.

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/news/splash.sd

Stoute and Moore hope to form successful team with Papal Bull

by Nicholas Godfrey
.

SIR MICHAEL STOUTE may be planning talks this weekend with Ryan Moore to formalise their partnership, but there is a more pressing reason why the pair are spending some time together in the Far East.

In theunfortunate absence of Dylan Thomas, their Japan Cup contender Papal Bull has assumed the mantle of leading overseas contender for the 27th running of Japan's most famous race, run in the early hours of Sunday morning (UK time) at Tokyo racecourse.

This Coolmore four-year-old, the one with the ungainly head carriage and enigmatic temperament rather than the winner of the Arc and King George, is joined in the £2.4million event by the Mick Channon-trained Halicarnassus in a bid to embellish Britain's tally of four Japan Cup winners.

They face a formidable domestic team headed by the favourite Meisho Samson, a dual-Classic scorer last year who has thrived as a four-year-old, Dubai Duty Free winner Admire Moon and Vodka, the first filly in 64 years to win the Tokyo Yushun, Japan's Derby run over course and distance back in May.

Since its inception in 1981, the Japan Cup has been won by horses from nine different nations. However, with Japan's massive bloodstock investment manifesting itself in a burgeoning array of equine talent, seven of the last nine have stayed at home.

Stoute, who recorded back-to-back victories with Singspiel and Pilsudski in 1997 and 1998, was on hand in Tokyo on Friday for the first time to put the finishing touches on Papal Bull, a horse who must have tried both his and Moore's not inconsiderable talents. Not to mention their patience.

“He looks very well,” said Stoute. “He's put the weight back on and it's very satisfactory. He did five furlongs this morning, we let him go a good kick. He'll like the ground but he needs every bit of the mile-and-a-half trip so I hope stamina will come into play.”

On his most recent outing, the Princess of Wales's Stakes winner just failed to catch Halicarnassus over 1m3f in Newbury's Arc Trial.

His rider suggests Papal Ball may have matured a little on his trip. “He can be a bit tricky and he's been called a few names in the past, but he feels like maybe he has grown up a bit coming over here,” said Moore. “It has done him good.The fast pace should suit and he stays well so the climb to the line should be in our favour.

“If he gets his head together, he's got an engine and he's probably as talented as any horse in the race,” added the rider. “You've got to leave it to him, you have to ride him without bullying him, he'll go when he's ready to go.
“Maybe he will need a career-best by a long way but I think he's well capable of running a big race, though ideally I would like another furlong. He tends to come quite late and it's not a question of the gaps coming too soon here, it's whether he gets there in time.”

Mick Channon, trainer of the Darryll Holland-partnered Halicarnassus, has the utmost respect for the Japanese horses. “I think the world has realised the strength of Japanese horses in the last six or seven years,” he said.

Only four three-year-olds have won the Japan Cup, and Halicarnassus also has a wide draw, neither of which is unduly bothering his trainer, who is determinedly upbeat about thecolt's chances.

“He is a relatively young horse who has been progressive all year and is still improving,” said Channon. “He's only a three-year-old but he has the mental age of a five- or six-year-old.

“One thing's for sure. All I can say about our horse is that there will be no excuses about the ground, about the draw or anything else. He's perfect, just perfect, 100 per cent fit and ready to run for his life ñ the ground should be perfect and I don't think the trip is a problem as he finishes his races very strongly. But I think the opposition is a massive problem.”

The other two foreign runners are Germany's Arc sixth Saddex and US Grade 1 winner Artiste Royal, aboard whom teenage sensation Joe Talamo has the leg-up for California-based Englishman Neil Drysdale.

They face the sternest opposition from the home team, though, with several of Japan's current stars attempting to add their name to an honour roll featuring some of the foremost horses in the nation'sracing history, among them El Condor Pasa, T M Opera O, Zenno Rob Roy and, last year, the great Deep Impact.

Yutaka Take's mount Meisho Samson will start hot favourite after beating many of Sunday's rivals in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last month on his comeback after a summer break during which he contracted equine influenza, thereby scuppering a planned trip to the Arc.

The field reads like a who's who of Japanese racing.

As well as Admire Moon, purchased by Darley after a reported $40m deal and Vodka, a star-studded line-up features last year's Melbourne Cup one-two Delta Blues and Pop Rock, Guineas winner Victory, Group 1 veteran Cosmo Bulk, 2006 runner-up Dream Passport and 2005 Derby runner-up Inti Raimi, who is on a hat-trick.

[my miss storm cat]

Full results.....


1st 4 7 Vermilion(JPN) H5 57.0 2:06.7
2nd 6 11 Field Rouge(JPN) H5 57.0 2:06.9 1 1/4
3rd 1 1 Sunrise Bacchus(JPN) H5 57.0 2:07.5 3 1/2
4th 4 8 Meisho Tokon(JPN) H5 57.0 2:07.7 1 1/4
5th 3 6 Wild Wonder(JPN) H5 57.0 2:07.7 NK
6th 6 12 Dragon Fire(JPN) C3 55.0 2:07.9 1 1/4
7th 7 13 Blue Concorde(JPN) H7 57.0 2:08.2 1 3/4
8th 1 2 Student Council(USA) H5 57.0 2:08.6 2 1/2
9th 5 10 Wonder Speed(JPN) H5 57.0 2:08.7 NK
10th 2 4 Furioso(JPN) C3 55.0 2:09.1 2 1/2
11th 7 14 Fusaichi Ho O(JPN) C3 55.0 2:11.6 DS
12th 8 15 Jack Sullivan(USA) G6 57.0 2:11.9 1 3/4
13th 5 9 Eishin Lombard(USA) H5 57.0 2:11.9 NK
14th 8 16 Bonneville Record(JPN) H5 57.0 2:12.0 NK
15th 2 3 Kandidate(GB) H5 57.0 2:12.4 2 1/2
16th 3 5 Cafe Olympus(USA) H6 57.0 2:14.0 10

Replay.....


http://www.jra.go.jp/JRADB/asx/2007/...705050711h.asx

[jaripeo]

Sunday, 25 November 2007
Japanese Odds
Saddle Cloth No. & Draw
Horse Name
Predicted Odds
JRA Totalisator Odds

22/11
24/11 (p.m.)
1

Erimo Harrier (JPN)

80-1
150.2
2

Pop Rock (JPN)

15-1
14.5
3

Cosmo Bulk (JPN)

30-1
69.2
4

Admire Moon (JPN)

8-1
12.1
5

Chosan (JPN)

40-1
49.2
6

Victory (JPN)

35-1
45.3
7

Papal Bull (GB)

60-1
54.5
8

Artiste Royal (IRE)

18-1
42.0
9

Inti Raimi (JPN)

10-1
11.0
10

Meisho Samson (JPN)

2-1
1.7
11

Vodka (JPN)

4-1
5.6
12

Fusaichi Pandora (JPN)

25-1
70.2
13

Hiraboku Royal (JPN)

65-1
188.1
14

Dream Passport (JPN)

20-1
15.0
15

Rosenkreuz (JPN)

50-1
144.9
16

Saddex (GB)

45-1
56.4
17

Halicarnassus (IRE)

70-1
134.5
18

Delta Blues (JPN)

55-1
115.0

Related Website : 2007 Japan Cup

Lets go PAPAL

[my miss storm cat]

Trying to put sentiment aside (which is hard).....

Much as i want Vodka to win (and Delta Blues, Cosmo Bulk and Rosenkreuz to do well) , I'm looking at Victory and Inti Raimi.

Some are tossing Dream Passport but i think he might be good enough.....

Vodka / Dream Passport / Inti Raimi / Saddex, subject to change.

I'll be thrilled for you if your boy, Papal, wins.

[my miss storm cat]

PPs.....

http://www.tvg.com/forms/JapanCup1124.pdf