Group 1 Japan Cup betting guide, form and tips
THE Group 1 Japan Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious horse races and with a purse of $7.7 million, it’s a race well worth winning.
Japan’s best stayers will line up in the feature at Tokyo this Sunday (5.40pm) where the likes of Kitasan Black, Real Steel and 2015 Melbourne Cup entrant Fame Game all take their place.
The Japan Cup has been won by champions of the turf which includes Gentildonna, Deep Impact and Zenno Rob Roy.
It has also been won by some top class Australasian thoroughbreds with Horlicks winning for New Zealand in 1989 before Better Loosen Up won for David Hayes and Australia the following year.
The Japanese runners have dominated in recent history and we think they have a great chance of making it 11-straight Japan Cup wins.
Sign up to Bet365.com which is the only bookmaker currently offering a 2016 Japan Cup market.
2016 Japan Cup betting market
1. Kitasan Black – $3.50
2. Biche – $34
3. Gold Actor – $6
4. Rouge Buck – $17
5. Iquitos – $67
6. Last Impact – $19
7. One And Only – $51
8. Erupt – $19
9. Dee Majesty – $7
10. Tosen Basil – $51
11. Fame Game – $67
12. Sounds Of Earth – $15
13. Hit The Target – $101
14. Rainbow Line – $17
15. Nightflower – $67
16. Real Steel – $4.50
17. Cheval Grand – $15
The majority of the money has come for Kitasan Black and Real Steel. The Japanese stars have been in great form already this campaign and we’re expecting more money to come for both runners.
Gold Actor and Dee Majesty have been solid in the market at each way prices with some specking coming for last start Tokyo winner Cheval Grand.
2016 Japan Cup featured runners
Kitasan Black – $3.50
Trainer: Hisashi Shimizu
Jockey: Yutaka Take
Form: 213×1
This classy four-year-old colt is a winner of seven from 12 starts and it comes into this having won the Group 2 Kyoto Daishoten last start.
The son of Black Tide is a winner of two from three on this track and it was able to defeat 2016 Melbourne Cup entrant Curren Mirotic over 3200m three starts back in the Group 1 Tenno Sho Spring.
It was beaten by race-rival Gold Actor last campaign and it’s certainly not bullet proof, but the $3.50 at Bet365.com suggests it can take this out.
Real Steel – $4.50
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Form: 3102
The son of Japan Cup-winning Deep Impact has had mixed form coming into this race, but its last start was very encouraging for punters.
The four-year-old finished second behind Maurice in the Group 1 Autumn Tenno Sho which is world class form. It wasn’t suited by running over the mile in the Yasuda Kinen, but respect back up in distance over the 2400m.
Real Steel is a winner of the Group 1 Dubai Turf in March where it defeated a quality field over 1800m and it will only need some luck from the wide barrier to figure in the finish.
Risky taking the $4.50, but expect a similar price on race day.
Gold Actor – $6
Trainer: Tadashige Nakagawa
Jockey: Hayato Yoshida
Form: 1×101
Gold Actor is a winner of nine from 16 starts which features quality wins in the Group 1 Arima Kinen and a last start win in the Group 2 All Comers Stakes.
Its last run at Toyko was a win last November when it took out the Group 2 Copa Republica Argentina and its overall record on the track is strong with two wins from five starts.
The disappointing effort came in the Spring Tenno Sho when it finished 12th behind Kitasan Black, but it rebounded in style and each way punters will enjoy the $6 on offer at Bet365.com.
Dee Majesty – $7
Trainer: Yoshitaka Ninomiya
Jockey: Masayoshi Ebina
Form: 13×14
Dee Majesty is one of the younger horses in the field, but it has plenty of upside and a successful future ahead.
The three-year-old colt by Deep Impact brings in a different form line to the other well-favoured runners by running in the St Leger last start. It finished fourth behind Santono Diamond, but the three-year-old form has been strong all season.
The Japanese 2000 Guineas winner has done all of its racing at age group level which will make winning the Japan Cup much harder, but don’t discount its class and its ability to see out this distance.
It’s currently paying $7 so watch the market for any late movement.
2016 Japan Cup tips
1st – Kitasan Black
2nd – Gold Actor
3rd – Real Steel
Each way chance – Rouge Buck ($17 at Bet365.com)
It’s hard to overlook the winning chances of Kitasan Black and it’s the favourite for a reason. Its form coming into the Japan Cup has been steady and it will get all favours from the inside draw.
Gold Actor and Real Steel are obvious winning contenders and punters won’t be surprised if either runner takes this out.
Our each way bet for the race is Rouge Buck which has won five from 12 starts and it wasn’t far behind Maurice last time out.
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