Kentucky-based owner John Stewart applauds the lucrative purse structure that his 2024 private purchase Goliath will be competing for Nov. 24 in the Japan Cup (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse before adding with a laugh, "The Japanese are very, very hospitable people but I don't think they want me to take that money home on Sunday."
Yes the competitive juices are flowing this week as the ¥959,260,000 (about US$6.2 million) Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse is living up to its international billing behind a trio of accomplished invaders providing a real threat to end the host country's 18 straight victories in the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) turf race for 3-year-olds and older.
Stewart made the trip to the Far East to see if Goliath can post a third straight group/graded stakes win after an Oct. 20 victory in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (G2) at ParisLongchamp. That marked the first start for Goliath under Stewart's Resolute Bloodstock banner as he purchased a three-quarter interest in the 4-year-old Adlerflug gelding after his 2 1/4-length victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) July 27 at Royal Ascot. Breeder and original owner Baron Philip Von Ullmann stayed in as a minority owner.
"I think Goliath is the type of horse that everyone deserves to see, and so that's why we want to try to make him available in these contests all over the world," Stewart said. "Japan's the first stop, and we're very excited."
ANGST: Japan Cup Victory Would Carry Extra Meaning for Stewart
The tough King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes field included Auguste Rodin, who finished fifth. The 2023 winner of the Epsom Derby (G1) and Irish Derby (G1), who closed out that sophomore season with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, will try to avenge that defeat Sunday in what will be his final career start.
The son of Japan's seven-time leading sire Deep Impact figures to have plenty of local fan support. The Japan Racing Association plans to honor him in a ceremony Sunday, win or lose. Campaigned by the Coolmore-affiliated owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Westerberg, Auguste Rodin's connections will be looking for a seventh grade/group 1 win. Should he pull it off, he would boast top-level victories on three continents.
ANGST: Japan Racing Association to Celebrate Auguste Rodin
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said it was fair to compare Auguste Rodin's smooth stride to that of his late sire Deep Impact.
"We always ask the jockeys how the horses feel and usually the very special horses only take one or two strides and they feel different," O'Brien said. "That means that they feel very smooth, that they only feel like they're gliding over the ground rather than hitting the ground. And from day one, Auguste Rodin has felt like that.
"If you watch him, his movement, he floats across the ground rather than hitting the ground. So he's incredibly light on his feet. And I think his dad was like that, and his granddad (Sunday Silence) was like that as well."
Rounding out the trio of international runners is Fantastic Moon, who won the Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) in September before a ninth-place finish in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1). There figures to be plenty of interest in Sunday's race in Germany as Fantastic Moon and Goliath were both bred in that country.
While there is no local-based runner this year as accomplished as Equinox, who secured his second Japan Horse of the Year title as well as the Longines World's Best Racehorse honors following his four-length victory in the 2023 Japan Cup, the 11 local runners are formidable.
Leading the way is Do Deuce, a 5-year-old son of Heart's Cry who earned champion honors in Japan at 2, won the 2022 Japanese Derby (G1) at 3, and will look for his fifth grade 1 score Sunday. He enters off a 1 1/4-length victory in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) Oct. 27 on the same course.
"There isn't much time between races, but everything has gone smoothly," said regular rider Yutaka Take. "He's on his toes and I was again asked to give him a solid workout. There was no damage from the last race and his footwork is very good."
While Equinox is retired to stud, his trainer, Tetsuya Kimura, is back in the race with this year's Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) (G1) winner Cervinia. Kimura noted that the weight assignments are attractive. Cervinia will carry 54 kilograms while older male rivals will tote 58 kilograms. He said it would be special to send out the third 3-year-old filly to win the Japan Cup.
"That would be something that would be remembered for years to come," Kimura said through an interpreter.
The race is scheduled for 3:40 p.m. local time Sunday, which is 1:40 a.m. ET.
