No Japan Cup for Dangerous Midge

The connections of Dangerous Midge, the 8.50-1 winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf, have declined an invitation to run in the Japan Cup.

Trainer Brian Meehan had been contemplating a trip to Tokyo for Dangerous Midge, a 4-year-old son of Lion Heart. Dangerous Midge was originally scheduled to fly directly from Louisville to Tokyo for the Nov. 28 race, but Meehan decided to return him to his Manton training center in Wiltshire, England. On Friday morning the trainer informed the Japan Racing Association that the time between the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Japan Cup would require too quick a turnaround.

A record number of nine foreign challengers are still in line for the Japan Cup, a 1 1/2-mile turf race worth $6.1 million. The Ian Black-trained Fifty Proof has been confirmed as a starter. The Canadian-based Fifty Proof finished second in the Northern Dancer Turf and fifth in the Canadian International, both at Woodbine Racetrack, and will be the only North American horse in the race. He is scheduled to depart for Japan on Sunday. A decision concerning Snow Fairy’s Japan Cup status will be made after her run in Sunday’s Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto.

Other foreign-trained horses aiming for the race are Joshua Tree, the Aidan O’Brien-trained winner of the Canadian International; Cirrus des Aigles, Marinous, Mores Wells and Timos from France; Dandino from Britain; and Voila Ici from Italy. They would run into Japan’s two leading hopes, Arc runner-up Nakayama Festa and the 4-year-old filly Buena Vista. Confirmation of the final foreign lineup will not be made until next week.