2017 Japan Cup betting tips, form and odds
THE Japan Cup is a global horse racing event which features some of the best horses from around the world, including defending champion Kitasan Black.
Japanese hopes are strong this year with a host of champion runners, but Kitasan Black is vying to become only the second horse to win consecutive Japan Cup titles.
Australia is represented by 2017 Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time and although not tipped to beat the locals, the Lindsay Park-trained stayer could be the new Better Loosen Up or Horlicks and take the Japan Cup for Australasia.
We have free tips, form and odds for the feature at Tokyo which runs on November 26.
2017 Japan Cup odds
| Kitasan Black | +160 |
| Rey de Oro | +320 |
| Satono Crown | +500 |
| Suave Richard | +800 |
| Real Steel | +1200 |
| Kiseki | +1400 |
| Makahiki | +1400 |
| Soul Stirring | +1400 |
| Cheval Grand | +1600 |
| Cliffs of Moher | +1600 |
| Gold Actor | +1600 |
| Idaho | +2000 |
| Albert | +2500 |
| Neorealism | +2500 |
| Sciaccetra | +2500 |
| Sounds of Earth | +2500 |
| Boom Time | +3300 |
| Rainbow Line | +3300 |
| Staphanos | +3300 |
| Guignol | +4000 |
| Iquitos | +10000 |
Japan Cup winning prediction – Kitasan Black
2016 Japan Cup winner Kitasan Black is the current bookmakers favourite at $2.60 with CrownBet.com.au and it’s also our top pick.
Looking to score the first back-to-back Japan Cup since Gentildonna, the five-year-old champion couldn’t be in better form leading into the Tokyo feature.
The son of Black Tide won the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last month over race-rivals Satono Crown and Rainbow Line. That feature win was a rebound performance after finishing ninth in the Takarazuka Kinen to finish its spring campaign.
Kitasan Black has had only five runs since winning the Japan Cup last year, with three wins coming at group one level.
He’s one of the toughest thoroughbreds in the world and would dominate in Australia given the chance. His stocks remain high for the 2017 Japan Cup and it’s good enough to equal to record of Gentildonna by winning consecutive Japan Cups.
2017 Japan Cup next best tip – Rey de Oro
Three-year-old colt Rey de Oro is the new horse on the scene and the biggest danger to Kitasan Black.
The Kazuzo Fujisawa-trained runner has won five of his six starts, which included the Japanese Derby at Tokyo last start.
Its only defeat came in the Japanese 2000 Guineas when running fifth behind Al Ain, but it has since won three consecutive races and one of those was a group two victory over Kiseki ($15).
History suggests that three and four-year-old form stacks up well for the Japan Cup, with the last five winners under the age of five.
Whether or not Rey de Oro has the toughness to battle out against some of Japan’s best is the big question, but international rider Christophe Lemaire will likely be in the saddle after winning the Derby and he has experience winning the Japan Cup with Vodka in 2009.
2017 Japan Cup horse to watch – Real Steel
$13 for Reel Steel could be a steal for punters.
The five-year-old by Deep Impact finished fourth behind Kitasan Black in the Tenno Sho and it finished only fifth in the last year’s Japan Cup, but he’s classy at best.
A winner of the Group 1 Dubai Turf, the Yoshito Yahagi-trained runner has won only once since then, but he continues to produce solid efforts just behind the winners. The sparingly-raced stayer is having its third run this campaign which will help and it has the quality to turn the tables on the favourite.
It’s currently paying $4 to place at CrownBet and that’s good value in our eyes.
Top Australian hope – Boom Time
Boom Time is the only Australian hope, but it does represent value at $34 with Sportsbet.
The Lindsay Park-trained six-year-old is a grinding type of horse which can be suited in Japan. His win in the 2017 Caulfield Cup was a good example of this and despite running poorly in the Melbourne Cup, the Japan Cup could suit better.
David Hayes has won the Japan Cup in 1990 with Better Loosen Up and although it was a much better runner than Boom Time, history could repeat next Sunday.
The Japan Cup is run along at a good speed and it’s usually survival of the fittest. The flight will take something out of Boom Time, but he’s tough and he loves a good staying test.
Don’t give up hope on another Australian winner of the Japan Cup.