Epiphaneia beckons for Japan Cup heroine Almond Eye
It is remarkably rare that any pre-race hype matches the eventual product, but yesterday’s Japan Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) not only delivered in spades – proving the leading race anywhere in the world in 2020 – it marked the coronation of a legend of Japanese racing as Almond Eye (5 m Lord Kanaloa – Fusaichi Pandora by Sunday Silence) capped her career with her ninth Group 1 win, a JRA record.
Labelled the “battle of the century” by the Japanese media, in the same way in which Australian fans laud the 1986 Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m), the 40th Japan Cup featured an unprecedented three Triple Crown winners – 2018 fillies’ champion Almond Eye, her 2020 equivalent Daring Tact (Epiphaneia) and 2020 king of the colts Contrail (Deep Impact).
Tearaway leader Kiseki (Rulership), who held a 25-length margin at one point, was still clear by 15 lengths at the 500 metres and seven lengths at the 300 metres before being grabbed at the 150-metre mark, setting up a grandstand finish.
It was the Christophe Lemaire-ridden Almond Eye, who had settled marginally closer than Contrail and Daring Tact, who had first run on her rivals and that proved the decisive blow. The mare was the first to pass Kiseki and proved impossible to reel in as she became the second horse, after Gentildonna (Deep Impact), to win two Japan Cups.
At the line, the Sakae Kunieda-trained Almond Eye had a length and a quarter on the closing Contrail, who lost no admirers as the Yoshito Yahagi trainee suffered his first defeat under Yuichi Fukunaga. The Haruki Sugiyama-prepared Daring Tact filled third, a neck behind Contrail, with rider Kohei Matsuyama striking trouble on the filly at different times in the straight.
“The pace was ideal for Almond Eye and her response was totally different from that in the Tenno Sho (Autumn),” Kunieda said. “Since expectations of an eighth Group 1 title were enormous at her last start, we did feel pressure but today, all we wanted was for her to come back safe and sound.
“The victory is such a bonus, we couldn’t be happier. She has given us so much excitement and joy and it has been fulfilling to be a part of her career. It would be great if I could be involved in training her colt or filly someday.”
Melbourne Cup-winning rider Lemaire, who has been a constant visitor to Japan throughout his career but who made the move to the country full-time in 2015, has ridden Almond Eye in all but one of her 15 starts. The Frenchman’s success yesterday gave him a third Japan Cup, having also ridden Vodka (Tanino Gimlet) to victory in 2009.
“Since this was Almond Eye’s final start, it was very special for me and I’m thrilled we were able to win,” Lemaire said. “She was tuned up beautifully. She was relaxed in the gate, broke smoothly and was able to sit in a good position. The pace was just right for her and she responded well in the stretch. The others closing in on us didn’t worry me at all.
“Almond Eye is a perfect mare, she doesn’t have any weaknesses, and she has been so very special to me. I love her dearly. Her career as a racehorse may have ended today but I look forward to riding her children.”
With the curtain coming down on Almond Eye’s career, she retires having won nine Group 1 races – two Japan Cups, the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Gr 1, 2000m) twice, the Japanese Fillies’ Triple Crown of the Oka Sho (Gr 1, 1600m), the Yushun Himba (Gr 1, 2400m) and the Shuka Sho (Gr 1, 2000m), the Victoria Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) and her sole effort on the world stage in the Dubai Turf (Gr 1, 1800m) at Meydan.
While 2014 Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia (Symboli Kris S) could not sire this year’s winner with Daring Tact third, he may be one of the big winners out of the race with Almond Eye set to pay him a visit at Shadai Stallion Station in 2021.
Northern Farm principal Katsumi Yoshida told local media that there were a number of factors to consider, with King Kamehameha-line stallions naturally ruled out.
With Deep Impact yet to produce a stallion son , Yoshida is leaning towards either Epiphaneia – whose oldest crop are three-year-olds – or Arrowfield shuttler Maurice (Screen Hero), who is set to be crowned Japan’s leading first season sire in 2020.
“I think it will be Epiphaneia or Maurice, although there are also overseas stallions to be considered,” Yoshida said in Japanese. “As with most of our horses, we don’t always know for sure until the day we cover them. In reality, I think it’s going to Epiphaneia, that’s the most likely option.”
However, there is every chance that Contrail, who shapes as the great Deep Impact’s best chance to produce an heir apparent as a stallion, could one day meet Almond Eye again in the breeding barn. First, though, he will return as a four-year-old, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) a potential target.
Almond Eye retires as the winner of 11 of her 15 starts with earnings of 1,915,263,900 yen (approx. AUD$24.9 million).