So what if the Japan Cup.....
 

..... is a long way off? Here are the first international noms.....

JRA News
October 12, 2006


JAPAN CUP - G1
Sunday, 26 November

Number of horse(s) : 50as of October 12 Trained Country Horse Name Sex/Age Trainer
UK IMPERIAL STRIDE(GB) H5 Saeed Bin Suroor
UK MARAAHEL(IRE) H5 Michael Stoute
UK OUIJA BOARD(GB) M5 Edward Dunlop
UK DAVID JUNIOR(USA) C4 Brian Meehan
UK KANDIDATE(GB) C4 Clive Brittain
UK NOTNOWCATO(GB) C4 Michael Stoute
UK YOUNG MICK(GB) G4 George Margarson
IRE SCORPION(IRE) C4 Aidan O'Brien
IRE AUSSIE RULES(USA) C3 Aidan O'Brien
IRE DYLAN THOMAS(IRE) C3 Aidan O'Brien
IRE IVAN DENISOVICH(IRE) C3 Aidan O'Brien
FR POLICY MAKER(FR) H6 Elie Lellouche
FR PRIDE((FR) M6 Alain de Royer Dupré
FR SHIROCCO(GER) H5 André Fabre
FR HURRICANE RUN(IRE) C4 André Fabre
FR LAVEROCK(IRE) C4 Carlos Laffon-Parias
FR FREEDONIA(GB) F4 John Hammond
FR MONTARE(IRE) F4 Jonathan Pease
FR BEST NAME(GB) C3 Robert Collet
FR ALIX ROAD(FR) F3 Myriam Bollack-Badel
GER LAURO(GER) C3 Peter Schiergen
GER PRINCE FLORI(GER) C3 Sascha Smrczek
USA THE TIN MAN(USA) G8 Richard Mandella
USA BETTER TALK NOW(USA) G7 Graham Motion
USA RUNAWAY DANCER(USA) G7 Daniel Hendricks
USA GO DEPUTY(USA) H6 Todd Pletcher
USA FILM MAKER(USA) M6 Graham Motion
USA ARTISTE ROYAL (IRE) H5 Laura De Seroux
USA BOBOMAN(USA) H5 Richard Mandella
USA CACIQUE (IRE) H5 Robert Frankel
USA GOOD REWARD(USA) H5 Claude McGaughey III
USA RELAXED GESTURE (IRE) H5 Christophe Clement
USA T.H.APPROVAL(USA) H5 Eduardo Inda
USA HONEY RYDER(USA) M5 Todd Pletcher
USA LAVA MAN(USA) G5 Doug O'Neill
USA ARAGORN (IRE) C4 Neil Drysdale
USA COSMONAUT(USA) C4 Patrick Biancone
USA ENGLISH CHANNEL(USA) C4 Todd Pletcher
USA RUSH BAY(USA) C4 Thomas Amoss
USA WILKO(USA) C4 Mark Hennig
USA GORELLA (FR) F4 Patrick Biancone
USA ROYAL HIGHNESS (GER) F4 Christophe Clement
USA RAMAZUTTI(USA) G4 Todd Pletcher
CAN ARRAVALE(USA) F3 MacDonald Benson
CAN SKY CONQUEROR(USA) C4 Darwin Banach
AUS GREY SWALLOW(IRE) H5 Dale Sutton
AUS TAWQEET(USA) C4 David Hayes
AUS LAD OF THE MANOR(NZ) G6 Roger Hoysted
AUS EL SEGUNDO(NZ) G5 Colin Little
AUS GROWL(NZ) G4 David Hayes



JAPAN CUP DIRT - G1
Saturday, 25 November

Number of horse(s) : 17as of October 12 Trained Country Horse Name Sex/Age Trainer
UK UTOPIA(JPN) H6 Saeed Bin Suroor
UK DAVID JUNIOR(USA) C4 Brian Meehan
UK KANDIDATE(GB) C4 Clive Brittain
IRE GEORGE WASHINGTON(IRE) C3 Aidan O'Brien
USA SUPER FROLIC H6 Vladimir Cerin
USA GOOD REWARD H5 Claude McGaughey III
USA MAGNUM (ARG) H5 Darrell Vienna
USA WE CAN SEEK (CHI) H5 Mark Hennig
USA LAVA MAN(USA) G5 Doug O'Neill
USA DIXIE MEISTER(USA) G4 Julio Canani
USA AWESOME TWIST(USA) C4 John Kimmel
USA INVASOR (ARG) C4 Kiaran McLaughlin
USA PAPI CHULLO(USA) C4 Buenaventura Vargas
USA PREMIUM TAP(USA) C4 John Kimmel
USA WILKO(USA) C4 Mark Hennig
USA JAZIL(USA) C3 Kiaran McLaughlin
USA STEPPENWOLFER(USA) C3 Daniel Peitz



MILE CHAMPIONSHIP - G1
Sunday, 19 November

Number of horse(s) : 10as of October 12 Trained Country Horse Name Sex/Age Trainer
UK COURT MASTERPIECE(GB) H6 Edward Dunlop
UK CARADAK(IRE) H5 Saeed Bin Suroor
UK LIBRETTIST(USA) C4 Saeed Bin Suroor
IRE AD VALOREM(USA) C4 Aidan O'Brien
IRE GEORGE WASHINGTON(IRE) C3 Aidan O'Brien
IRE AUSSIE RULES(USA) C3 Aidan O'Brien
IRE IVAN DENISOVICH(IRE) C3 Aidan O'Brien
IRE ART MUSEUM(USA) C3 Aidan O'Brien
USA FREE THINKING(USA) H5 Douglas Danner
USA ARAGORN (IRE) C4 Neil Drysdale



QUEEN ELIZABETH II COMMEMORATIVE CUP
Sunday, 12 November

Number of horse(s) : 6as of October 12 Trained Country Horse Name Sex/Age Trainer
UK OUIJA BOARD(GB) M5 Edward Dunlop
UK PICTAVIA(IRE) F4 Saeed Bin Suroor
UK RISING CROSS(GB) F3 John Best
FR MONTARE(IRE) F4 Jonathan Pease
USA FILM MAKER(USA) M6 Graham Motion
CAN ARRAVALE(USA) F3 MacDonald Benson

there's a couple ok horses nominated :rolleyes:

Alas, the only foreign entries left are Ouija Board and Freedonia.....

Best Name bought by Godolphin and out, as are the rest.....

First noms, The Japan Cup.....

http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/pdf/061114-02.pdf

..... and the Japan Dirt Cup.....

http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/pdf/061114.pdf

Aaah well, the replay for the Mile...

http://www.jra.go.jp/JRADB/asx/2006/...606080611h.asx

Results.....

KYOTO 11R
THE MILE CHAMPIONSHIP(G1)

November 19, 2006, 1600m, Turf Firm, Drizzle
INT DSN, Special Weight, 3-Year-Olds & Up, Open Class, Value of race: 195,700,000 Yen

(Kg) Finish
(1/10s) Margin
1st 5 10 Daiwa Major(JPN) H5 57.0 1:32.7
2nd 4 7 Dance in the Mood(JPN) M5 55.0 1:32.8 NK
3rd 8 16 Symboli Gran(IRE) C4 57.0 1:33.0 1 1/4
4th 6 11 Meiner Scherzi(JPN) C3 56.0 1:33.2 1 1/4
5th 7 14 Kinshasa no Kiseki(AUS) C3 55.0 1:33.2 NK
6th 2 3 Precise Machine(JPN) H7 57.0 1:33.3 1/2
7th 1 1 Court Masterpiece(GB) H6 57.0 1:33.4 1/2
8th 4 8 Hat Trick(JPN) H5 57.0 1:33.5 1/2
9th 1 2 Super Hornet(JPN) C3 56.0 1:33.6 1/2
10th 3 6 Camphor Best(JPN) H7 57.0 1:33.7 3/4
11th 3 5 Telegnosis(JPN) H7 57.0 1:33.7 HD
12th 7 15 Maruka Shenck(JPN) C3 56.0 1:33.8 NK
13th 8 18 Daring Heart(JPN) F4 55.0 1:33.9 3/4
14th 5 9 Suteki Shinsukekun(USA) C3 56.0 1:34.0 1/2
15th 8 17 Agnes Raspberry(JPN) M5 55.0 1:34.1 1/2
16th 6 12 New Very(JPN) H8 57.0 1:34.1 NS
17th 2 4 Logic(JPN) C3 56.0 1:34.1 NK
18th 7 13 Kinetics(JPN) H7 57.0 1:35.0 5

On Ms. Ouija Board.....

The JRA training report.....
http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/pdf/061120.pdf

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/news/mas...ational%20Zone

As far as the Japan Cup goes, I'll be thrilled with a good performance from either Deep Impact or Ouija Board...they've been some of my favorites this year :D.

And the Japan Cup Dirt...I'll go for Fusaichi Pandora, simply because that's the only one that I've seen run before :D.

Heh. And they're all totally all Captain Obvious picks XD.

Katy

Im sure you have seen Seeking the Dia and Time Paradox run.

I dont know for sure until I review pps, but I would think SeekDia is going to be very tough here.


as for the Japan Cup, Hearts Cry's form puts him as the only one with a shot to beat Deep Impact.
really is just btwn those 2 imo.
chalky, but those are 2 total freaks.


Repent

Seeking the Dia came so close last year..... really hope he can do it this time and agree that Time Paradox will be right up there with him.

What do you think of Hard Crystal, repent?

For the Cup, I agree - Heart's Cry. Freedonia should go off at big, fat odds. Don't know how she'll do over there.

Although I'd be thrilled if Ouija Board won and am expecting a great showing from the big three (HC, OB and DI), I keep wondering about Cosmo Bulk.....

Is Meisho Samson in?

blue square's odds: 4-1 Hearts looks nice...

Japan Cup betting (Blue Square): Evs Deep Impact, 4/1 Heart’s Cry, 6/1 Ouija Board, 7/1 Meisho Samson, 12/1 Dream Passport, 16/1 Daiwa Major, 20/1 Swift Current, 25/1 Admire Moon, 25/1 Cosmo Bulk, 33/1 Kawakami Princess, 40/1 Fusaichi Pandora, 66/1 Freedonia

I'll take Ouija here, hopefully she can finally run the really big figure that she never really has done in winning so many top races. She's in better form than this time last year when she was around two lengths behind Heart's Cry, and there must be doubts about that one's prep this time around. It will be interesting to see how Deep Impact has teken his exertions of the last couple of months, there is every chance that he will fly in, but I won't be taking even money about it happening.

deep impact will always be heavily bet. there's just no way to get value on him. 4/1 is a nice price on heart's cry but it's been a while since he's run. it's hard to imagine anyone but deep impact or heart's cry winning this one. they're the two best horses in the world. but stranger things have happened. if ouija board wins, a shrine should be built for her and she should be immediately inducted into every horseracing hall of fame.

Hard Crystal is interesting, but just lost to Time Paradox last out.
I like SeekDia and Vermillion intrigues me a bit.
past performances for anyone interested:
http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/pdf/061114.pdf

as for the Japan Cup,
I can look at pps a thousand times and nothing gets me away from Hearts Cry and Deep Impact.
both are so visually impressive on the racetrack.
match race.
just hope we get firm turf.
in another year,
Cosmo Bulk would make a lot of sense.
he can certainly run the distance.
but he would have to run the race of his life to be with HC and DI.
same goes for Dream Passport and MeiSamson.
just running in the wrong year.
you can certainly make a case that this is the deepest and best middle distance turf field assembled for the entire year of 2006.
past performances:
http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/pdf/061114-02.pdf



Repent

Do you happen to remember..... is Vermillion the one who always gets, ummm.... worked up? Shall we expect a Rakti moment, or am I confusing him with another?

Capping report (Japanese contenders) from the JRA, The Japan Dirt Cup...
http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/061122-02.html

The Japan Cup...
http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/061122-01.html

On Ouija Board and Frankie.....

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...al_085938.html

On Deep Impact, from the HKJC of all places.....

http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporat...6112314548.htm

Barrier draw, The Japan Cup.....

http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/061124-02.html

The Japan Dirt Cup.....

http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/061124-01.html

Japan Cup Dirt is next up.
Alondite seems the value.
class test for sure.

SeekDia is my pick, but will go off as one of the favs in a wide open field.
I like those 2 more than the rest.


Repent

Seeking the Dia, Hard Crystal, Sunrise

You nailed it! Very nice!!!

Cheers. :cool:

damn,
that was nice considering how the BC and HK have killed me lately.
gets me back up a bit.
too bad Im not an exacta player.
but I will take the win payout.


now lets roll that into tomorrow night.


Repent

Hey Sunday,
what do we call SeekDia now?
the Japanese Perfect Drift?
the male version of Balleto?
the horse always runs well, but appearantly has little interest in winning races.


Repent

That's actually what I've been calling him all week! :D

Until tomorrow.....

Again, great pick.

thanks,
Ive been so bad lately this helps out, both financially and confidence wise.
Its just one race, but when your international picks of late include Grey Swallow in the Cox and Yeats in the Melbourne Cup, then you begin to question if you have any international perspective whatsoever.
this helps.
Im celebrating right now with a bunch of friends watching TVG who really have no idea what getting home a 36 winner means.

thanks again for being up to share this with me.



Repent

Pent, you and I should be like the International experts for the DRF or TVG.

Well thank YOU for staying up with me. :)

The replay for those who missed it.....

http://www.jra.go.jp/JRADB/asx/2006/...605050711h.asx

The final JRA training report.....

It doesn't say much, but.....

http://japanracing.jp/_news2006/pdf/061125.pdf

Forget Cosmo Bulk.....

Heart's Cry / Ouija Board / Swift Current / Deep Impact

you going to be here to watch the Cup tonight Miss SCat?
Im pumped.
this is the best field i have ever seen for the Japan Cup.



Repent

Deepa Impacto - on top

Ouija Board - 2nd

Dream Passport -3rd

Swift Current - 4th

Hearts Cry - off the board

we still have a few hours to go, but Im thinking Di, HC,MeiSam.
in that order.
man,
thats chalky but Im just not prepared to pick against DI.
would they really risk his reputation as the best horse in the history of Japan if he were not 100%?
and if he is 100%, how can he lose?
this is so freaking crazy how good this field is.
forget the POW, forget the Arc, forget the King George.
this is the best field assembled this year for a turf race.


Repent

explain to me why that is?
layoff?

I watched my tape of the Dubai World Cup day earlier today.
and HC was amazing.
made me feel foolish to pick against him it was so good and it was off a layoff of similar time.



Repent

Lets put it this way, I'm real suspicious of where this horse is at. In Dubai he was coming off a 3 month layoff. Last year he raced six times and only had one win. This year he started with the win in Dubai then took off four months. raced in the King George and finished third to Hurricane Run who I think was also not as sharp as he has been. Now he is off five months? I feel that he might not be so sharp right now, which is why I said off the board. Why didn't they put another race or two into him this year?

One more thing, just because the race back in March looked amazing, doesn't mean that he can reproduce the same thing now.

thats fair.
I was surprised he did not get a race in btwn Dubai and Ascot.
Im not so surprised he has not run since Ascot though.
I think that was their target the whole time the same way the Arc was DI's target.
after that, I expected them to give him time.
I think he is fit.
why run him here if he were not?
good points and thanks.



Repent

no, but thats true for any horse.

Im trying to find somewhere to go besides even money.
Im assuming US pools will have DI as a heavier favorite than he will be in Japan.


Repent

Deep Imact destroys this field, but I do have a soft spot for a Quija Board upset

I'm sure they think he's fit, and he may very well be fit. I just think there is a subtle difference between being fit and being racing fit. Racing does things that no training can.

On the other hand, I'm just guessing, I really haven't a clue. I just don't want to watch a big race without at least having an opinion.

GREAT field!

So exciting!!!!!

Be on and off.....

Best of luck everyone and come home safe, all of you.

ok,
after giving it a last look,
Im going Deep Impact, Meisho Samson.

MeiSam across the board.



Repent