2011 Japan Autumn International series - nominations from foreign countries announced

2010 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup

This year's Japan Autumn International series of races has attracted a total of 78 nominations from countries around the world, and includes many of the top horses so familiar to the racing fraternity over the last year or so. The series kicks off on November 13th at Kyoto racecourse when the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup will be run over 2200 meters on the turf course.

There are seventeen nominations from overseas, and England perhaps holds the strongest hand. Entries include this year's Yorkshire Oaks winner, Blue Bunting, and the English Oaks winner, William Haggas trained Dancing Rain, together with Sir Henry Cecil's Nassau Stakes winner, Midday, and the unbeaten Nahrain. Last year's winner, Snow Fairy, will also be defending her title, and who can forget her runaway win last year under jockey Ryan Moore. Other nominated runners include two from Aidan O'Brien's stable, Irish 1000 Guineas winner, Misty For Me, and Wonder Of Wonders. Bible Belt is the other Irish nominee. Four French fillies are headed by Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe second, Shareta, and American Oaks winner, Cambina, heads four entries from the USA. Six year old mare, Mekong Melody, is the sole Canadian representative. Five horses among these stand the chance of receiving bonus prize money for finishing in the first three, and they are Blue Bunting, Dancing Rain, Midday, Misty For Me and Nahrain. For sure, all eyes will be on this first leg of the series.

2010 Mile Championship

The following week is the Mile Championship (November 20th), and this will also be held at the Kyoto track. There are thirteen nominations, five of them held by French horses. Six year old mare, Sahpresa, is nominated again after finishing fourth in the race last year, and third in 2009. She travels well and must be respected. So too must multiple Group 1 winner, Immortal Verse, a three year old filly with a big future. Aidan O'Brien has Await The Dawn, So You Think, and the horse that finished second to the mighty Frankel this summer at Royal Ascot, Zoffany. From England, Excelebration and Midday make the list, and the American four year old, Sidney's Candy, winner of the 2010 Santa Anita Derby, could get to take his chance. Runners here qualifying for the bonus money if they finish first, second or third are Excelebration, Sahpresa and Immortal Verse.

2010 Japan Cup

Come November 27th, the stage will be set for one of the world's richest races, the Japan Cup, and Tokyo racecourse will again be packed to the rafters for this unique race. There are twenty five horses from overseas currently nominated, and it's hard to know where to begin to describe this immense equine talent. Top of the list should probably be this year's Arc winner, Danedream, and she is expected to be in Japan to take on this next challenge. Six French horses are nominated, with Arc second, Shareta, heading them. Two others among the six could be back again this year, namely Mores Wells and Cirrus Des Aigles, who finished 13th and 9th respectively in last year's Japan Cup. As expected, Aidan O'Brien is well represented, and his four nominations are Await The Dawn, then this year's King George third, St Nicholas Abbey, Irish Derby winner, Treasure Beach, and the formidable So You Think, dual Cox Plate winner when trained by Bart Cummings in Australia, and winner of this year's Eclipse in England and the Irish Champion Stakes. Four American horses are headed by four year old, Prince Will I Am, and the five year old, Champ Pegasus, second in the Breeders Cup Turf in 2010. And last but not least, a powerful looking group of horses from England, including 2010 Breeders Cup Turf winner, Dangerous Midge, as well as Dancing Rain, Snow Fairy and Joshua Tree who finished 10th last year. Redwood and Jukebox Jury are also listed, together with Saeed bin Suroor's Campanologist. Whatever the final line-up, it's looking like a great Japan Cup.

2010 Japan Cup Dirt

Rounding out the series on December 4th at the Hanshin racetrack in western Japan is the Japan Cup Dirt run over 1800 meters. Some great horses from the USA are being aimed at this prize, and no fewer than nineteen have been nominated. This year's Preakness and Belmont winners, Shackleford and Ruler On Ice, certainly grab attention, so too does Kentucky Derby third, Mucho Macho Man, as well as Group 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner, Flat Out. There are no fewer than seven three year olds listed to represent America, and could they carry off the Japan Cup Dirt this year? Three Canadian Group winners, James Street, Moonshine Mullin and Stunning Stag get nominations, and rounding out the twenty three on the list is England's Poets Voice.
Four of the American runners qualify for first, second or third place bonus money, and they are Havre De Grace, Flat Out, Ruler On Ice and Shackleford.

*The first nominated foreign horses of the Japan Cup Dirt (G1) will be automatically nominated for the Tokyo Daishoten (G1), scheduled to be held at NAR's Ohi racecourse on December 29, 2011.

Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (G1)

Mile Championship (G1)

Japan Cup (G1)

Japan Cup Dirt (G1)