2012 Japan Cup Dirt (G1) – Handicapper’s Report on the Japanese Contenders

The 13th Japan Cup Dirt (G1, dirt, 1,800m), in its fifth year since moving to Hanshin Racecourse, is to be held without the participation of foreign runners – the last being Tizway (USA, by Tiznow) in 2009 – again this year, and will be contested among an all-Japanese field. Key runners in the race are as follows:

Roman Legend

Despite the presence of past Japan Cup Dirt winners and proven top-class dirt race runners entered in the coming dirt G1, center of attention is focused on Roman Legend (JPN, C4, by Special Week; Rating: 108M) who has a record of eight wins and a second out of nine starts on dirt, coming off a six-race winning streak which include two G3 victories. Though both his grade-race wins were won by short margins, he out-dueled multiple-top-class dirt race winner Espoir City in the Elm Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,700m) while the third-place finisher finished four lengths behind. His latest win in the Miyako Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,800m) was also impressive in that while he was caught behind a wall of front-runners for most of the trip, he exhibited a sharp turn of speed to leap in front in the final stages. His first Japan Cup Dirt challenge serves as a stage to prove the Special Week colt’s true competence against top-class dirt race caliber. His rating is as of his last win in the Miyako Stakes.

Wonder Acute

Wonder Acute (JPN, H6, by Charismatic; 115I), who was runner-up in the 2011 Japan Cup Dirt, has bounced back to form towards his third Japan Cup Dirt challenge, claiming his first grade-one victory, early in November, in the JBC Classic (dirt, 2,100m). Sent to post fifth favorite in the race, the son ofCharismatic edged forward from being forwardly placed and drew off to an overwhelming five-length victory. His ability was recognized in his nose second to multiple-top-class dirt race winner Smart Falcon (JPN, by Gold Allure) in the 2011 Tokyo Daishoten (G1, dirt, 2,000m), just after his runner-up effort in the Japan Cup Dirt in which he exhibited a tremendous effort at the stretch to finish second—a performance which gave the impression that he may have even won the race if only he had not stumbled at the gate. Rating is as of his win in the JBC Classic, last start.

Transcend

Back-to-back winner of the Japan Cup Dirt (2010/2011) Transcend (JPN, H6, by Wild Rush; 103I) needs to regain his form in order to defend his title a second time. His performance that was consistent last season fell into a deep slump this year. He lacked his good jump out of the starting gate in the February Stakes (G1, 1,600m) and unable to secure his usual position in front, was well defeated to seventh. Then despite positioned in front in his comeback start following his Dubai challenge in the JBC Classic, he was unable to hold off the late chargers and finished third, 1.6 seconds behind winner Wonder Acute—the blinkers, which he wore for the first time in that race, did not seem to help much but at least his jump at the start was back to his normal self. The rating is as of his third-place finish in the JBC Classic.

Espoir City

2009 Japan Cup Dirt champion Espoir City (JPN, H7, by Gold Allure; 115M) continues to stay in form this season. Although fifth in his annual debut in the February Stakes, he has recorded two wins and two seconds in his next four starts, which include two grade-one titles in the Kashiwa Kinen (dirt, 1,600m) and the Mile Championship Nambu Hai (dirt, 1,600m). His carried 3kg more than the winner when second toRoman Legend in the Elm Stakes and was strong in defeat. A worrying factor would be that his regular rider (Tetsuzo Sato) is unable to ride the son of Gold Allure due to injury from a fall on November 24. His rating is as of his two wins in the Kashiwa Kinen and the Nambu Hai.

To the Glory

To the Glory (JPN, H5, by King Kamehameha; 120L(T)) makes his dirt-race debut after having been raced on turf over three seasons, since his debut as a three-year-old. His dam, To the Victory (JPN, by Sunday Silence), was 0.2 seconds third when switched to dirt in the 2001 February Stakes and turned in a runner-up effort in the Dubai World Cup in her next start. His sire, King Kamehameha has also produced many good dirt runners, so his pedigree tells us that the new surface should not be a trouble. He has been below form in his last two starts but known to have his ups and downs throughout his career. His rating is as of his win in the Nikkei Shinshun Hai (G2, turf, 2,400m).

Ijigen

Among the five three-year-olds that are entered in the Japan Cup Dirt this year, Ijigen (USA, C3, by Empire Maker; 110M) is the colt to watch. Highly regarded from the beginning of his career, his potentials really showed in the Musashino Stakes (G3, dirt, 1,600m). Breaking slowly, he lost ground of about three-lengths to start, then racing wide around the third and fourth corner, he exhibited a terrific turn of foot to make headway along the stretch to a 1/2-length victory. His ability to maintain his speed over the long Tokyo stretch is impressive given that it is common for many horses to lose their steam if making an early move at Tokyo. However, in this case, the sectional time between the third and fourth corner was slow (12.7 – 12.9 seconds), so the wide move was a good choice made by the rider. The rating is as of his win in the Musashino Stakes.