Satono Diamond looks to upset Almond Eye in Japan Cup

The well-traveled Satono Diamond will start in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse in peak form this year, and holding the role of spoiler against the 3-year-old filly Almond Eye.

Two years ago, Satono Diamond won the final major race of the year in Japan, the Grade 1 Arima Kinen in December, to clinch the 3-year-old male title.

Last year, Satono Diamond did not have the same success in a brief autumn campaign in France, finishing fourth in the Group 2 Prix Foy and 15th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly.

This year, Satono Diamond has raced only in Japan, winning the Grade 2 Kyoto Daishoten at 1 1/2 miles on turf Oct. 8. This is his first appearance in the country’s top race, Sunday’s $5.37 million Japan Cup, also at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Satono Diamond, who has won 8 of 16 starts, is the leading older male in a field of 14, but has been overshadowed in the preparation by the brilliant 3-year-old Almond Eye, who swept the Triple Crown for fillies earlier this year.

Almond Eye, who breaks from the rail Sunday, will be a heavy favorite. If she falters, Satono Diamond is one of several older males in an international field capable of a win.

Cheval Grand, fourth in the Kyoto Daishoten, won the 2017 Japan Cup and will attempt to be the first two-time winner since the filly Gentildonna in 2012-13. Suave Richard, who was third in the Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen for milers in June, is well regarded despite a 10th after a poor start in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho on Oct. 28.

There are two international runners in Capri, who won the 2017 Irish Derby, and Thundering Blue, a Kentucky-bred who was second in the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine on Oct. 13 for trainer David Menuisier of England.

Capri, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was fifth in the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and fourth in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in England last month.

Satono Diamond, owned by Satomi Horse Company and trained by Yasutoshi Ikee, was beaten in three Grade 1 races from 1 1/4 miles to 1 3/8 miles from March to June. At times in his career Satono Diamond has been plagued by breathing issues, Ikee said.

In the Kyoto Daishoten, Satono Diamond closed from seventh to win his sixth graded stakes, prevailing by a half-length.

“His competitive spirit is nearly back to where it was in the best of times,” Ikee recently told Japan Racing Association publicists. “He no longer has problems with his breathing. His lungs are stronger.”

Post time for the Japan Cup is Saturday at 1:40 a.m. Eastern, or 10:40 p.m. Pacific.