Welcome back to our annual series of newsletters leading up to the 2023 Japan Cup (G1, 2,400m). The fall racing season is heading towards the Japan Autumn International Series, which will be held over a period of four weekends between November 12 and December 3 and will comprise four prestigious G1 races: the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,200m), the Mile Championship (G1, 1,600m), the Japan Cup, and the Champions Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m). Total prize money for the four G1 events will amount to ¥2.01 billion (US$15.4 million), with additional bonuses for winners of designated overseas G1 events who also finish within the Top 3 in any of the four races. In addition, winners of designated overseas races who finish outside the Top 3 places in the Japan Cup will be guaranteed an incentive of US$200,000.

Featured Runners in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup and Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix)
Last year’s Japan Cup ended as expected, with the Top 5 favorite horses finishing in the Top 5, though not in the expected order. While the field did not include prominent horses that opted to race in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1, 2,000m) and the Arima Kinen (The Grand Prix) (G1, 2,500m), the race resulted in Vela Azul (JPN, H6, by Eishin Flash) slipping away from a crowded field and overcoming a fierce rally before the wire to win the race, with foreign jockeys riding in Japan on short-term licenses claiming the Top 4 places.

Vela Azul, who switched to turf only in the spring of 2022, claimed the Kyoto Daishoten (G2, 2,400m) followed by the Japan Cup after winning two allowance races. However, his performances in three G1 races since then on both turf and dirt have not been encouraging; he finished 10th, 13th and 8th in the Arima Kinen, the Dubai World Cup (dirt, 2,000m) and the Takarazuka Kinen (2,200m), respectively. In the Takarazuka Kinen, he finished just 0.7 seconds behind Equinox, who came from behind to win the race. He will aim to defend his title in the Kyoto Daishoten in October before heading to the Japan Cup.

2022 Japan Cup runner-up Shahryar (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact) has raced in two starts in 2023, one of which was the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1, 2,410m) in March, in which he was unable to defend his title and finished fifth. In his first race back home, the Sapporo Kinen (G2, 2,000m) on August 20, he dropped back from mid-division to finish 11th. He was found to have a throat ailment after the Sapporo Kinen and underwent surgery. He is recovering well and is slated to run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1, 2,400m) on November 4.

Third-placed Weltreisende (JPN, H6, by Dream Journey) won the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2, 2,200m) in January but had to take a lengthy break, suffering tendon injuries in both forelegs after finishing ninth in the Osaka Hai (G1, 2,000m). Fourth-placed Daring Tact (JPN, M6, by Epiphaneia) was scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Neom Turf Cup (G3, 2,100m) at the end of February but was forced to cancel the trip due to a problem in her left foreleg. There are still no plans for her comeback. Fifth-placed Danon Beluga (JPN, C4, by Heart’s Cry) turned in a runner-up effort in the Dubai Turf (G1, 1,800m) at the end of March and secured fourth place in the Sapporo Kinen, his first start back home. As he has chosen to race in the Dubai Turf instead of the 1-1/2-mile Dubai Sheema Classic when traveling to the United Arab Emirates, he is expected to target races of 2,000 meters or less, such as the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in the fall.

Horses that did not run in last year’s Japan Cup are leading the domestic middle-distance races in 2023. Most notable is Equinox (JPN, C4, by Kitasan Black), who leads the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. While finishing second in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, G1, 2,000m) and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1, 2,400m) in succession in the spring of 2022, he improved his form in the second half of the year to win both the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Arima Kinen consecutively, subsequently being selected Horse of the Year. In his first race of this year, the Dubai Sheema Classic, jockey Christophe Lemaire pursued a surprising strategy of leading the pace, and the colt pulled away from the rest of the field in the straight after being urged lightly, finishing 3½ lengths ahead of the runner-up. He was given a 129 rating for this one race. After returning to Japan, he claimed his fourth G1 title in the Takarazuka Kinen, beating Through Seven Seas (JPN, M5, by Dream Journey) by a neck. In his fall campaign, he will be aiming to win the Japan Cup to obtain the ¥500 million first prize plus the bonus (US$2 million) given to the winner of the designated overseas G1 event (Dubai Sheema Classic) who also wins the Japan Cup. With an opportunity to defend his titles in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Arima Kinen, the connections decided to run him in the former prior to the Japan Cup.

Do Deuce (JPN, C4, by Heart’s Cry), who beat Equinox to claim the 2022 Tokyo Yushun, is also the focus of attention. After traveling to France last year for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1, 2,400m), in which he finished 19th, he was being prepared to run in the Japan Cup but was unable to take part in the race due to a conditioning delay. He won his comeback start in the Kyoto Kinen (G2, 2,200m) in February this year and then traveled to the UAE for the Dubai Turf, but was forced to withdraw right before the race due to lameness in his right foreleg. Having been sidelined after returning to Japan, he returned to Ritto Training Center in the first half of September to make a comeback in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on October 29, and will start in the Japan Cup, where he is expected to match up with Equinox again.

Titleholder (JPN, H5, by Duramente), winner of the 2021 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1, 3,000m), the 2022 Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1, 3,200m) and the Takarazuka Kinen, achieved an overwhelming victory in the Nikkei Sho (G2, 2,500m) this March. He was race favorite in the following Tenno Sho (Spring) as a defending champion but pulled up at the final corner due to lameness in his right foreleg. Fortunately, as it was not a major injury, he made a comeback in the Sankei Sho All Comers (G2, 2,200m) on September 24, in which he set the pace and, although overtaken by the winner 100 meters out, secured a runner-up seat.

The most notable of the three-year-old generation is Liberty Island (JPN, F3, by Duramente). The filly attracted great attention when winning her debut race at the end of July last year with an astonishing late charge, timing 31.4 seconds over the last 600 meters. While finishing second in the following Artemis Stakes (G3, 1,600m), she won three consecutive G1 races in the Hanshin Juvenile Filles (G1, 1,600m), the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1, 1,600m) and the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1, 2,400m). Though concerns were expressed over her aptness for the 2,400-meter distance of the Yushun Himba, she slipped away from the pack early after racing in good position and finished six lengths ahead of the runner-up. The race time of 2:23.1, which was the second fastest in race history and 2.1 seconds faster than that of the Tokyo Yushun run with a mixed field the following week, proves that she can compete with the opposite sex on more than equal terms. She returned to the Ritto Training Center in mid-September for the Shuka Sho (G1, 2,000m) on October 15, in her aim to become the seventh fillies’ Triple Crown winner since Daring Tact, and is expected to head for the Japan Cup.

Meanwhile, there were no standout colts in the spring classic races for three-year-olds. Sol Oriens (JPN, C3, by Kitasan Black) unleashed a terrific late charge in the straight after trailing near the rear to win the Satsuki Sho in only his third career start. While it was anticipated he might also win the Tokyo Yushun, he finished second, just a neck behind Satsuki Sho runner-up Tastiera (JPN, C3, by Satono Crown). It was a close race with the first four runners including third-placed Hearts Concerto (JPN, C3, by Heart’s Cry) and fourth-placed Bellagio Opera (JPN, C3, by Lord Kanaloa) crossing the wire with the same finish time of 2:25.2, which was the second slowest time since 2012, following 2:26.9 in 2017. The Top 3 finishers of the Tokyo Yushun are expected to race in the Kikuka Sho on October 22, and with only five weeks between the two races, it is uncertain whether they will participate in the Japan Cup.

Other possible starters in this year’s Japan Cup include: Stars on Earth (JPN, F4, by Duramente), winner of the 2022 Oka Sho and Yushun Himba, who finished second in the Osaka Hai and third in the Victoria Mile (G1, 1,600m) during her spring campaign and is scheduled to come back from a long break in the Tenno Sho (Autumn); 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,200m) winner Geraldina (JPN, M5, by Maurice), who started in three races this spring, fourth place in the Takarazuka Kinen being her best performance; Rousham Park (JPN, C4, by Harbinger), who registered his second grade-race title in the All Comers; and Justin Palace (JPN, C4, by Deep Impact), victor of the Tenno Sho (Spring), who is likely to start in the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen.

Though unlikely to run in the Japan Cup, three key runners that will take part in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) raced in the Sapporo Kinen: race favorite Jack d’Or (JPN, H5, by Maurice), who captured his first G1 title in the Osaka Hai in April, finished sixth; last year’s Takarazuka Kinen runner-up Hishi Iguazu (JPN, H7, by Heart’s Cry) finished fifth; the winner, Prognosis (JPN, H5, by Deep Impact), scored his second graded victory following his Kinko Sho (G2, 2,000m) win in March. He is coming off a second in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1, 2,000m) in Hong Kong in April.

Sprint, Older Fillies & Mares, Mile, Dirt, and Steeplechasing
The opening G1 event of the 2023 JRA fall season, the Sprinters Stakes (1,200m), will be held on October 2 without defending champion Gendarme (USA, H8, by Kitten’s Joy) and this year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1, 1,200m) victor First Force (JPN, H7, by Lord Kanaloa), both of whom have retired from racing to stand at stud. The autumn sprint G1 will feature this year’s Takamatsunomiya Kinen runner-up Namura Clair (JPN, F4, by Mikki Isle) who scored her fourth grade-race victory in the Keeneland Cup (G3, 1,200m) on August 27. Other key sprinters among the Keeneland Cup finishers were Hakodate Sprint Stakes (G3, 1,200m) winner Kimiwa Queen (JPN, F4, by Lord Kanaloa) and last year’s Sprinters Stakes runner-up Win Marvel (JPN, C4, by I’ll Have Another), who will strive to better their respective seventh and 16th-place performances.

The overall victor of the “Summer Sprint Series” was North American-bred Jasper Krone (USA, C4, by Frosted) who led gate to wire in two of the six legs, the CBC Sho (G3, 1,200m) on July 2 and the Kitakyushu Kinen (G3, 1,200m) on August 20. Victory in the Centaur Stakes (G2, 1,200m) on September 10 was notched up by longshot T M Spada (JPN, F4, by Red Spada), bouncing back to form after several dismal finishes in G3 events this season, followed by Hankyu Hai (G3, 1,400m) winner Aguri (JPN, C4, by Caravaggio) a length behind in second while 2021 Sprinters Stakes champion Pixie Knight (JPN, H5, by Maurice) and 2022 Best Two-Year-Old Colt Dolce More (JPN, C3, by Rulership) failed to respond, finishing eighth and 13th respectively.

This year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup for three-year-old-and-up fillies/mares on November 12 will be transferred from Hanshin Racecourse back to Kyoto, which was under renovation from November 2020 to April 2023. Last year’s champion Geraldina and runner-up Win Marilyn (JPN, M6, by Screen Hero) commenced their autumn season in the All Comers, finishing sixth and ninth, respectively. Win Marilyn is primed to run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1, 2,000m) or Turf (G1, 2,400m) on November 4 in the United States instead of making a fourth attempt to claim the Queen Elizabeth II Cup title.

Several other contenders slated to race in this year’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup will come off the Fuchu Himba Stakes (G2, 1,800m) on October 14, such as Izu Jo no Kiseki (JPN, M6, by Epiphaneia), winner of last year’s Fuchu Himba Stakes, Lilac (JPN, F4, by Orfevre), who shared the runner-up spot with Win Marilyn in the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and also Rouge Eveil (JPN, F4, by Just a Way), runner-up against male opponents in the Epsom Cup (G3, 1,800m) in June. The Queen Elizabeth field may also include two Mermaid Stakes (G3, 2,000m) victors Big Ribbon (JPN, M5, by Rulership; 2023) and Win Mighty (JPN, M6, by Gold Ship; 2022), both of whom will prep in the Kyoto Daishoten. Three-year-old filly hopefuls coming off the Shuka Sho, the final leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown, may step up to challenge their seniors as well.

The Mile Championship on November 19, also returning to Kyoto, will not see the participation of two-time Yasuda Kinen (G1, 1,600m) champion Songline (JPN, M5, by Kizuna) who will fly to the United States to run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1, 1,600m). Beaten to second by Songline in the Yasuda Kinen is defending champion and 2022 Best Sprinter or Miler Serifos (JPN, C4, by Daiwa Major), who was expected to start in the Fuji Stakes (G2, 1,600m) on October 21, however, all plans for his autumn campaign have been dropped due to the delay of recovering from the summer heat. The Fuji Stakes field will most likely see 2022 Shuka Sho runner-up Namur (JPN, F4, by Harbinger) and two-time G3 winner Elusive Panther (JPN, H5, by Heart’s Cry), along with Red Mon Reve (JPN, C4, by Lord Kanaloa) and Champagne Color (JPN, C3, by Duramente), respective winners of this year’s Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2, 1,400m) and NHK Mile Cup (G1, 1,600m).

2021 NHK Mile Cup victor Schnell Meister (GER, H5, by Kingman) is targeted to capture his second G1 title in the Mile Championship after his autumn kick-off start in the Mainichi Okan (G2, 1,800m) on October 8 together with Win Carnelian (JPN, H6, by Screen Hero) and Justin Cafe (JPN, H5, by Epiphaneia) who notched wins in the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (G3, 1,600m) and the Epsom Cup, respectively. This year’s Mile Championship field will also include Sodashi (JPN, M5, by Kurofune), the pure white mare and winner of three G1 titles all at the mile distance, as well as Selberg (JPN, C4, by Epiphaneia), Avverare (JPN, M5, by Duramente) and Soul Rush (JPN, H5, by Rulership), respective winners of the Chukyo Kinen (G3, 1,600m) in July, the Sekiya Kinen (G3, 1,600m) in August and the Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap (G3, 1,600m) in September.

JRA’s autumn dirt G1 event, the Champions Cup, will be held at Chukyo Racecourse on December 3. Last year, Jun Light Bolt (JPN, H6, by King Kamehameha) claimed the race while extending his winning streak to three; however, his performances this season have been under par, marking a seventh and 15th in the Saudi Cup (G1, dirt, 1,800m) and the Dubai World Cup (G1, dirt, 2,000m), respectively, and was followed by a seventh in June’s Teio Sho (dirt, 2,000m). His connections decided to retire him this month and he is en route to his next career at Yushun Stallion Station.

Back-to-back Teio Sho victor Meisho Hario (JPN, H6, by Pyro) scored his first Teio Sho title in June last year, commenced the present season scoring a third in the February Stakes (G1, dirt, 1,600m) and landed another major title in the Kashiwa Kinen (dirt, 1,600m) in May before narrowly defending his Teio Sho title a month later. The son of Pyro is scheduled to kick off his autumn campaign in the JBC Classic (dirt, 2,000m) at Oi Racecourse on November 3 and then head for the Champions Cup in early December. The JBC Classic field will also comprise T O Keynes (JPN, H6, by Sinister Minister) who claimed the 2021 Champions Cup and was named Best Dirt Horse that year. The son of Sinister Minister is winless this year in three starts, coming in as runner-up in the Kawasaki Kinen (dirt, 2,100m) in January and marking a fourth-place endeavor in the Dubai World Cup and a third in the Teio Sho. NAR’s Oi-based Mick Fire (JPN, C3, by Sinister Minister), who claimed the Japan Dirt Derby (dirt, 2,000m) against JRA-based contenders in July, will also be among the JBC Classic lineup after a bid in the Derby Grand Prix (dirt, 2,000m) at NAR’s Morioka Racecourse on October 1.

Another possible Champions Cup contender is Promised Warrior (JPN, H6, by Majestic Warrior), winner of the Tokai Stakes (G2, dirt, 1,800m) and the Antares Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,800m), who will most likely prep in the Musashino Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,600m) on November 11. Last year’s Champions Cup runner-up Crown Pride (JPN, C4, by Reach the Crown) and Heian Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,900m) champion Gloria Mundi (JPN, H5, by King Kamehameha), displayed strong performances overseas this fall, crossing the wire in first and second, in that order, in the Korea Cup (G3, dirt, 1,800m) on September 10. These two contenders and several runners in the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (dirt, 1,600m) at Morioka on October 11 such as 2022 Satsuki Sho champion Geoglyph (JPN, C4, by Drefong) and the February Stakes winner Lemon Pop (USA, H5, by Lemon Drop Kid) are also prospects for the Champions Cup.

The Nakayama Daishogai (J-G1, 4,100m) on December 23 will be the second of this year’s two steeplechase events given J-G1 status and will determine the season’s best jumper. Last year’s champion Nishino Daisy (JPN, H7, by Harbinger) failed to add the other J-G1 title, the Nakayama Grand Jump (4,250m) in April, to his resume, finishing ninth, and will kick off his fall campaign in the Tokyo High-Jump (J-G2, 3,110m) on October 15. This year’s Nakayama Daishogai will see participants such as Irogotoshi (JPN, H6, by Vincennes), Daishin Clover (JPN, G7, by Kinshasa no Kiseki), T O Socrates (JPN, H6, by Eishin Flash) and June Velocity (JPN, H5, by Lord Kanaloa), respective victors of the Nakayama Grand Jump, the Kyoto High-Jump (J-G2, 3,930m) in May, the Kokura Summer Jump (J-G3, 3,390m) in August and the Hanshin Jump Stakes (J-G3, 3,110m) in September.

Heading Towards the Final Legs of the Three-Year-Old Triple Crowns
Liberty Island will undoubtedly be the main attraction in the coming Shuka Sho. The 2022 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (1,600m) champion who dominated two G1 spring classics, the Oka Sho and the Yushun Himba, will head directly from a summer break for the last leg of the fillies’ Triple Crown on October 15, aiming to follow Almond Eye and Daring Tact in completing the Triple Crown sweep. Those who will also commence their autumn season with the Shuka Sho include Harper (JPN, F3, by Heart’s Cry) and Shinryokuka (JPN, F3, by Satono Diamond), runner-up and fifth-place finishers respectively in the Yushun Himba, as well as Kona Coast (JPN, F3, by Kitasan Black),  the Oka Sho runner-up, and Doe Eyes (JPN, F3, by Rulership), the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies third-place finisher.

Two trial races were held leading up to the Shuka Sho. In the Shion Stakes (2,000m) on September 9, which was upgraded to G2 this year, fourth favorite Moryana (JPN, F3, by Epiphaneia) claimed her first grade-race title. Hip Hop Soul (JPN, F3, by Kitasan Black) and Shirankedo (JPN, F3, by Declaration of War) followed in second and third respectively, while Flower Cup (G3, 1,800m) victor Emu (JPN, F3, by Harbinger) came in ninth and race favorite Grand Bernadette (JPN, F3, by Kizuna) tenth.

The other trial race, the Rose Stakes (G2, 1,800m) on September 17, was won by Masked Diva (JPN, F3, by Rulership) in a record 1:43.0. Brede Weg (JPN, F3, by Lord Kanaloa) and Malaki Naia (JPN, F3, by Just a Way) came in second and third respectively, but Yushun Himba fourth-place finisher Ravel (JPN, F3, by Kitasan Black) disappointed in 14th.

This year’s Shuka Sho field will also include the Yushun Himba third-place finisher Dura (JPN, F3, by Duramente) and two-time graded winner Kita Wing (JPN, F3, by Danon Ballade), who finished first and eighth respectively in the Queen Stakes (G3, 1,800m) on July 30.

Meanwhile, the Kikuka Sho on October 22 will feature the Top 3 finishers of the Tokyo Yushun. Derby champion Tastiera will head directly to the Kikuka Sho while Satsuki Sho winner and Tokyo Yushun runner-up Sol Oriens already began his fall campaign in the St. Lite Kinen (G2, 2,200m) held on September 18, finishing second. Tokyo Yushun third-place finisher Hearts Concerto also kicked off the latter part of the season on September 24, finishing fifth in the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,400m).

Lebensstil (JPN, C3, by Real Steel) claimed the first of the Kikuka Sho trial, the St. Lite Kinen, by a comfortable 1-3/4 lengths to Sol Oriens while Shazzan (JPN, C3, by Lord Kanaloa) finished another 1-1/4 length behind in third. Hopeful Stakes (G1, 2,000m) champion and UAE Derby (G2, dirt, 1,900m) runner-up Dura Erede (JPN, C3, by Duramente) was eighth and Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000m) victor Gruner Green (JPN, C3, by Lovely Day) finished 14th.

Satono Glanz (JPN, C3, by Satono Diamond) achieved a new course record of 2:23.5 when capturing the Kobe Shimbun Hai, his second grade-race victory following the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (G2, 2,200m) in May. 10th favorite Savona (JPN, C3, by Kizuna) was out-finished by the winner just before the wire to finish a head behind in second place while holding off second-favorite and Satsuki Sho third-place finisher Phantom Thief (JPN, C3, by Harbinger) by half a length. Mainichi Hai (G3, 1,800m) winner Season Rich (JPN, C3, by Duramente) was well beaten in tenth.