Shahrya might be favored in Japan Cup
Since he finished third in the Grade 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse last November, Shahryar has had mixed results in three starts around the world.
A win in the Group 1 Sheema Classic in Dubai in March in Shahryar’s first start of the year was followed by a fourth in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in England in June and a fifth in the Grade 1 autumn running of the Tenno Sho at Tokyo Racecourse on Oct. 30.
While the recent loss in the Tenno Sho by 3 3/4 lengths at 1 1/4 miles was a disappointment, the race may have served as an ideal prep for Sunday’s $5.5 million Japan Cup where Shahryar rates as a possible favorite along with the 3-year-old Danon Beluga.
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Shahryar, the winner of the 2021 Japanese Derby, drew post 15 for the Japan Cup, which is run at 1 1/2 miles and drew a full field 18, including four European runners – Grand Glory, Onesto, Simca Mille and Tunnes.
Shahryar, a winner of 4 of 9 starts, will be ridden by Cristian Demuro, who has been aboard the colt for his three starts this year. Trained by Hideaki Fujiwara, Shahryar tends to run from a tracking position.
Danon Beluga, a Grade 3 winner at 1 1/8 miles in February, was fourth in the Japanese Derby in May behind Do Deuce and third by 1 1/4 lengths in the Tenno Sho behind Equinox. Do Deuce and Equinox are not running in the Japan Cup, denying the field two of the home country’s leading runners this year.
Danon Beluga has won 2 of 5 starts. The Japanese Derby is his only race at 1 1/2 miles.
The Japan-based contenders include the improving Vela Azul, the winner of the Grade 2 Kyoto Daishoten at 1 1/2 miles at Hanshin Racecourse on Oct. 10, and Daring Tact, who was third in the 2020 Japan Cup and did not start in the race last year. Daring Tact was sixth of 18 as the 3-1 favorite in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at 1 3/8 miles for fillies and mares at Hanshin Racecourse on Nov. 13.
Onesto is rated as the leading contender among the European runners. Trained in France by Fabrice Chappet, Onesto won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at 1 1/2 miles at Longchamp in July, and was 10th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on very soft turf on Oct. 2.
The 6-year-old mare Grand Glory was fifth in the Arc, and a Group 3 winner in France at 1 1/4 miles in May.
Simca Mille was second to Onesto in the Grand Prix de Paris and won the Group 2 Prix Niel at 1 1/2 miles for 3-year-olds at Longchamp in September.
Tunnes is a longshot who has won his last five starts in a six-race career for trainer Peter Schiergen. The winning streak includes the Group 1 Preis Von Bayern at 1 ½ miles at Munich Racecourse on Nov. 6, his second win at the distance in as many starts since late August.
Post time for the Japan Cup is 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday and 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.
Saturday’s program at Tokyo Racecourse includes the $219,900 Cattleya Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile, the first of four stakes in the country’s qualifying series for the 2023 Kentucky Derby.
The Cattleya Stakes drew a field of 10 led by Plavi, who won his debut in a race for first-time starters at 1 1/8 miles at Chukyo Racecourse on Oct. 1, and Mirror of Mind, who won a similar race at 1 1/16 miles at Sapporo in his lone start on July 23.
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