As the Thanksgiving weekend has started and horseracing fans in the United States are being offered quality races, the 30th edition of the Japan Cup will be starting on Sunday. The Grade I Japan Cup that will be run
on a turf surface over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs will featuring some of the most talented colts, age three and up.
Son of Montjeu, Joshua Tree is one of eight racehorses who have travelled all the way to Japan to take part in the richest turf race on Sunday. O’Donoghue will be riding the Adian O’Briens trained, Canadian International winning
horse facing competition from the likes of winner of the Gordon Stakes, Dandino. Dandino is a James Given trainee and will be ridden by Paul Mulrennan, representing Britain.
The much anticipated Japan Cup carries a purse of 528 million Yen and will be featuring four racehorses from France, with one competitor each from Italy and France. All of these colts are high profile contenders and will have to
face a field of strong racehorses from Japan. The home team of the Japan Cup is known to be dominated by Nakayama Festa (Arc runner-up) and the champion filly Buena Vista.
Joshua Tree is being flaunted the most for the Japan Cup on the basis of his spectacular performance in the Canadian International meeting that took place in October. Moreover, he also held off the Japan Cup contenders Mores Wells
and Fifty Proof.
So far, only one three year colt has claimed victory in the Japan Cup, while Alkaased and Frankie Dettori were the last overseas racehorses to have won the prestigious event back in the 2005.
This is the first time O’Brien will be sending out a horse in the Japan Cup and he seems delighted with the development of Joshua Tree before the major start on Sunday. O’Brien said, “He moved great when I rode him this week and
we’re very happy with his progress.”
He went on to say, “He is facing a very strong group of horses – I give massive respect to all of them – and I expect the pace will be quite strong, but he is very versatile and he travels very well, which could be very important.”
Owned by the Elite Racing Club, the son of Dansii, Dandino is training under the care of James Given for the Tokyo event. Dandino has not been successful in claiming a Group I race and also disappointed his fans and connections
by finishing 8th in the St Leger meeting. Nonetheless, his trainer is expecting much of the colt in the Japan Cup since the fast track is something that Dandino enjoys. He will start the race from the third post from a powerful field of 18 contenders.
The Japan Cup is a great opportunity for Colm O’Donoghue to prove his athletic talent and potential.
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