Back in those dim, distant BC days – that’s Before Covid – there was arguably no greater global force on the racing stage than Japan, seemingly always to be feared when the big money was floating about.
A notorious series of near-misses in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe notwithstanding, a multitude of G1 successes in Dubai, Hong Kong, Australia and Europe have earned them a formidable reputation overseas. Indeed, eight G1s alone were secured in 2019 by Japanese horses in foreign climes, among them both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, the Dubai Turf and three of the four Hong Kong International Races.
Going the other way, the Japan Cup has become virtually a no-go area for visitors to the extent that the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Conduit, in 2009, was the last European-trained horse even to make the frame.
Yep, you can’t take the Japanese lightly. Except, it seems, at the Breeders’ Cup, where the record of Japanese-trained horses is nothing short of woeful. Okay, they have never properly targeted the 2-day championships, but even so, not providing a single placed horse from 13 runners speaks for itself. And it isn’t saying anything positive.
For the record, Japan’s best performance has come from 4-year-old filly Red Desire, beaten about a length a half behind Shared Account and Midday in the Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs in 2010. A Classic winner at home (and runner-up in two more), she poked her head in front a furlong out before giving way only grudgingly in a tight finish beneath the Twin Spires.
Trailblazer filled the same position after being outkicked in the 2012 Turf but otherwise, it’s hardly a history worthy of a ticker-tape parade. Indeed, five of the 13 previous Japanese-trained Breeders’ Cup runners have actually finished last, most recently Jasper Prince in last year’s Sprint.
JAPAN-TRAINED HORSES TO HAVE RUN AT THE BREEDERS’ CUP 
There has been one Japanese-bred winner, namely Karakontie in the 2104 Mile. But he was trained in France by Jonathan Pease.
Perhaps such a poor record is hardly surprising given that only Red Desire and Trailblazer have ever started at single-figure odds on the U.S. pari-mutuel, where the chances of most Japanese-trained horses have been summarily dismissed.
But could it be a case of that was then, and this now? Japanese horsemen have become increasingly outward-looking in the last decade or so, and concerted efforts to attract them to Del Mar in November could mean as many as seven Breeders’ Cup runners, headed by top-class racemare Loves Only You, a Classic winner who was beaten only a half-length by Saudi Cup hero Mishriff in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Spectacular 2-year-old winner Jasper Great, the star turn of Arrogate’s first crop, looks set to feature in a quartet from pioneering trainer Hideyuki Mori, alongside globetrotting sprinter Matera Sky and two more U.S.-breds.
Indeed, the Japanese team might have been even stronger but former juvenile champ Grenadier Guards now stays at home for the Mile Championship in Tokyo. His place in the Mile may be taken by G2 winner Vin De Garde, who has entered quarantine but remains 50-50.
Marugai Racing’s Kate Hunter, known throughout the racing world as ‘Keiba Kate’, has been recruiting for the Breeders’ Cup in Japan since 2016. After a few false dawns, she is pleased with the strength of the potential visiting party for 2021.
“We had one runner from Japan in 2016, then in 2017 we had hoped to get a runner but he ran so well in his prep they wanted to keep in home to win a domestic Grade 1 to up his stallion profile,” she explains. “In 2018 we had a lovely filly lined up but the Japanese shipping company was grounded due to maintenance issues. But after two years of issues we got rolling there again.”
This year for the first time, all 14 Breeders' Cup races will be run Lasix-free, so the prospect of a level-playing field doubtless helped attract more Japanese horses given the nation's strong stance against raceday medication.
Hunter suggests the prospect of a half-dozen runners is a “big leap”, explaining, “It’s great for the Breeders’ Cup, who have never had more than two before. As much as I’d love to take credit for it, it has been very much a team effort with everyone at the Breeders’ Cup to make things smoother for people traveling from Asia, which, when compared to traveling from Europe, is often quite difficult due to lack of planes or limited flight schedules.
“We have tried hard to push the fact that for not just Japanese turf horses, who are some of the best in the world, but also for Japanese dirt horses that the Breeders’ Cup is a unique opportunity on par with Dubai and now Saudi to compete for top honours.”
Under her company name, Marugai, Hunter acts as Japan-based rep for the Breeders’ Cup, Pegasus World Cup and Triple Crown in the U.S. – and others. She also does bilingual consultation marketing, and management services for those looking to enter the Japanese Thoroughbred industry.
She adds, “I think the Breeders’ Cup having hired someone like myself to help not only promote the event domestically but also personally assist the contenders during their stay in the U.S. has been another major contributing factor.
“Language is no longer a barrier so they can feel comfortable coming abroad and competing against the best horses in the world. It is hard when you don’t speak the language to stay on top of all the ins and outs of a foreign trip.
“So for the past five years the Breeders’ Cup has been working towards making a more hospitable environment for the Japanese, who before might not have been able to manage on their own. It has paid off in big ways and will hopefully be a trend that continues.”
In years to come, we might look back at the 38th Breeders’ Cup as the one in which Japan finally started to take it seriously. Ignore them at your peril.
JAPAN’S BREEDERS’ CUP POSSIBLES FOR 2021
Jasper Great (Juvenile)
2c, Arrogate - Shop Again (Wild Again)
Trainer: Hideyuki Mori
As a son of world champion Arrogate, there was special interest in this $200,000 colt’s debut in a 1m1f newcomers’ race on dirt earlier this month at Hanshin. He let nobody down – quite the reverse – in a ten-length made-all romp after which longstanding internationalist Hideyuki Mori marked him down as a BC contender. Who knows the value of the form, but there will be few more intriguing youngsters at Del Mar, where Arrogate, a shadow of his former self, was beaten three times after his memorable Dubai World Cup triumph.
Jasper Prince (Dirt Mile)
6h, Violence - Ambitious Journey (Bernardini)
Trainer: Hideyuki Mori
U.S.-bred 6-year-old was Japan’s sole runner last year at Keeneland, where he even managed to outpace the U.S. speedballs to claim the lead in the Sprint. It was all too much, however, and he basically stopped at the quarter-pole. He comes in again after winning the Enif Stakes, a 7f listed race at Chukyo in September and is set to step up to a mile on the dirt at Del Mar.
Loves Only You (Filly & Mare Turf/Turf)
5m, Deep Impact - Loves Only Me (Storm Cat)
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Assuming Tarnawa doesn’t show up, this top-class racemare could be Japan’s best-ever chance of BC success (the 1m3f trip looks tailor-made), although she could yet take on male counterparts in Turf. Daughter of legendary Triple Crown winner won Yushun Himba (Oaks) at three and showed her mettle for overseas travel when beaten only a half-length in Dubai Sheema Classic before beating top-class field in Hong Kong’s QEII Cup in April. Breeders’ Cup immediately nominated as a target; beaten only by younger Classic winner Sodashi in prep and holds sound credentials. She has career earnings of around $5.4 million.
Marche Lorraine (Distaff)
5m, Orfevre - Vite Marcher (French Deputy)
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Breeders’ Cup is long-term target for daughter of dual Arc runner-up. She is a 4-time Graded-stakes winner on dirt on Japan’s second-tier NAR circuit and landed a local G3 over 2,000 metres (1m2f) on the NAR circuit at Mombetsu in August on her final prep run at home. Also won Empress Hai at Kawasaki in March, but the Distaff promises a different kettle of sushi as she cuts back in trip.
Matera Sky (Sprint)
7h, Speightstown - Mostaqelah (Rahy)
Trainer: Hideyuki Mori
Veteran sprinter, last in Sprint at Santa Anita in 2019, is set for seventh overseas outing at Del Mar. Very fast, and made XY Jet pull out all the stops in Dubai Golden Shaheen in 2019; also second in both runnings of valuable Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Saudi Cup card, getting nabbed at the wire after blazing fractions in 2020 before another agonising last-gasp defeat this year. Below form last two, however, and yet to win above G3 in long career.
Pingxiang (Dirt Mile)
4c, Speightstown - Beauty And Light (Unbridled’s Song)
Trainer: Hideyuki Mori
Need-the-lead type is a 4-year-old son of BC Sprint winner Speightstown who went to Keeneland 12 months ago but failed to get a run in the Sprint. Has won three out of five in lesser allowance company over 1,400 metres on dirt this term but unseen since June.
Vin De Garde (Mile)
5h, Deep Impact - Skia (Motivator)
Trainer: Hideaki Fujiwara
Though U.S. ambitions were dented a bit by a lacklustre comeback last weekend in G2 Mainichi Okan at Tokyo racecourse, this son of late, lamented supersire is in quarantine for possible trip to Del Mar. Capable of high level form at best, as when landing G2 Fuji Stakes 12 months ago and then second, beaten three lengths by Lord North, in Dubai Turf at Meydan in March. Solid enough at G2 level; question is whether G1 will prove too much of a stretch.