Why the Breeders’ Cup was a blip for Japan
The 42nd edition of the Japan Cup takes place on Sunday, November 27th. The venue is 223,000 capacity, but the record attendance was 196,517 for the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in May 1990. Prize-money is $864 million, which is equivalent to $6.15 million in US dollars.
There are four overseas runners in the Japan Cup on Sunday. Three of them are from France and one from Germany. Onesto is chasing a €2.5m bonus on offer to the Grand Prix de Paris winner. Grand Glory returns after coming fifth last term. Simca Mille completes the French team. Tunnes is unbeaten in Germany and won an G1 event in Munich. Even a substandard domestic defence features Dubai Sheema Classic winner Shahryar and a pair of Oaks winners Uberleben and Daring Tact.
The Japan Cup is a lucrative race. North America used to have an enviable record. Now, the lure of Far East lucre has lessened. Alpinista, mentioned as a possible to chase a hefty bonus on offer to the Arc winner, has been retired. The race hasn't had an overseas winner since Alkaased touched off Heart’s Cry in 2005 under Frankie Dettori. The advent of lucrative alternative opportunities on turf in other places, notably Hong Kong and Dubai, also has diminished the strength of the raiding parties.
Japan's state-funded industry was not immune to the worldwide economic downturn after the turn of the century. Annual betting turnover for 2021 was just over three trillion yen (about $21.4bn/£18bn). Prize-money is close to a record 120bn yen ($1.06bn / £912m) of 2000.
Ryan Moore was at the Japan Cup a few years ago. He was impressed with the facilities and the racing. The Japan racing industry has changed since the 1980s. There is a lot of money in the sport in Japan. A lot more horses are bred in that country. European horses were once barred from racing in this country, but now they are allowed.
This year's Japanese representation at the Breeders’ Cup was disappointing. Japan has been transformed from a relative outpost to a global powerhouse. The weakening value of the yen and the lack of success in Europe may have dampened their confidence. They will be back at Breeder”s Cup in 2023. They have already won the event in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Their last representative at Keeneland finished 10th in the Filly & Mare Sprint.
