These aren’t the official quotes and you could get more or less when the market does open but these are the guides bookies will be working off before the race.

The 2011 Japan Cup is being talked up as perhaps the best ever and there’s no doubt the quality of horses on hand are second to none.

The international horses have had a tough time of it in recent years but this could well be their best chance yet of winning the event.

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2011 Japan Cup Betting & Odds

Jaguar Mail – $67

Buena Vista – $5.00

Rose Kingdom – $12

Oken Bruce Lee – $17

Trailblazer – $21

To The Glory – $26

Pelusa – $12

Victoire Pisa – $12

Sarah Lynx – $11

King Top Gun – $126

Mission Approved – $67

Win Variation – $26

Danedream – $4.00

Shareta – $12

Eishin Flash – $18

Tosen Jordan – $9.50

It’s a race that has fast become one of the most anticipated events on the calendar and it has already produced some of the more memorable runs on the international stage.

If the 2011 Japan Cup holds up to the standard the horses should bring there may well be another highlight added to the memory bank this Sunday.

All up there are eleven Grade 1 (Group 1) winners in the field and even this year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion Danedream.

In addition to that the locals boast Victoire Pisa which won the Dubai World Cup in March, this matchup alone enough to spike new records in crowd and TV ratings.

Other internationals in the field though include the Arc runner up Shareta, Canadian International champion Sarah Lynx and Mission Approved, the US based veteran that won the Manhattan Handicap in June.

They face a tough ask though with no overseas horse having won the Japan Cup since 2005, prior to that it was  2002 and before that it was 1997.

If a horse is going to do it though there’s no better form line than by winning the Arc and Andrasch Starke will be the jockey in charge of getting the filly to the line this Saturday.

“The Japan Cup is a tough race, she has had a hard year and anything on top of the Arc would be a bonus,” he said.

“But this horse surprises me all the time. She doesn’t show you anything in her work but she is a tremendous filly and if she is in the same form – and I think she will be – then we are in with a real chance.”

It will be even tougher in 2011 than in the past as well with local Japanese media spruiking their team this year as the most talented group of all time.

Listed below is the full field expected for the 2011 Japan Cup this weekend.

Australian bookmaker Luxbet will be covering the race and will be offering the very best odds available anywhere.

With international events there’s often a great chance to snag inflated odds so make sure you get on at Luxbet and earn yourself a few Yen from the 2011 Japan Cup!

2011 Japan Cup Field

In a controversial Japan Cup result, the punters favourite Bunea Vista charged across the line first three quarters of a length ahead of fourth elect Rose Kingdom, but after a lengthy inquiry the filly was demoted from first place and the honours went to Rose Kingdom.

Roughie Victoire Pisa finished off the trifecta just a nose away in third for an all Japanese top three.

In fact, the Japanese contingent totally dominated the Grade 1 Japan Cup (2400m) this year, taking out the top eight placings with Jaguar Mail, Pelusa, Meisho Beluga, Oken Bruce Lee and Eishin Flash.

France’s Cirrus des Aigle was the best international performer in this year’s Japan Cup, coming in a distant ninth.

Buena Vista’s jockey Christophe Soumillon had the filly wide on the outside with 200 metres left to run, and after repeated whipping the favourite speared to the inside to take the lead.

However, Rose Kingdom was racing on the inside of Buena Vista, and jockey Yutaka Take was forced to pull back.

The overzealous tactics by Soumillon cost Buena Vista, and her thousands of supporters, the win.

Both Bunea Vista and Rose Kingdom are owned by the Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. Club, so the decision to reverse the order of the first two finishers didn’t affect the owners.

Rose Kingdom (King Kamehameha by Rosebud) has now won five of their nine career starts, Sunday’s 250 million Yen in prize money boosting their total earnings to nearly 569 million yen.

The next big event on the international racing calendar is the Hong Kong International Race Day on December 12, featuring the Hong Kong Cup.

Head to Luxbet for the best odds on all the upcoming Australian and overseas racing action!

2010 Japan Cup Results

The Grade 1 Japan Cup (2400m) is worth 528 million Yen this year, which is the 30^th edition of the famed event, and it is shaping up as a close and competitive showdown where eight internationals will attempt to steal the glory from the local Japanese contingent.

Buena Vista is the clear favourite in the Japan Cup betting, the star Special Week filly boasting an imposing recent record.

However, with 17 other hopefuls she faces her toughest test to date and below we have a look at the full field and form for the main Japan Cup runners.

Remember, Australian punters can get in on the Japan Cup betting action too simply by signing up with leading online bookmaker Luxbet!

Japanese Horses in 2010 Japan Cup Field:

Buena Vista – Definitely the main contender and a favourite with the punters leading the Japan Cup odds, the Hiroyoshi Matsuda-trained Bunea Vista is a classy four-year-old who won the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in outstanding style. The Tenno Sho was Bunea Vista’s fifth Grade 1 victory and she is now just two wins away from equalling last year’s Japan Cup winner Vodka’s record for the most Grade 1 victories by a female horse. Can she give the punters a win and step one race closer on Sunday?

Nakayama Festa – The other leading Japanese contender, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up Nakayama Fest narrowly defeated Buena Vista in the Takaraszuka Kinen back in June and fans have been eagerly awaiting the rematch between the two champions. The Stay Gold colt is in line to win the Japanese Horse of the Year and success in the Japan Cup will all but seal the honours.

Eishin Flash – Another local runner with genuine claims, the Hideaki Fujiwara-trained colt having won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) this year. Had a slight injury scare last month but is reportedly back to peak fitness and will give it everything in the Japan Cup, run at the same track and distance as the Derby.

Oken Bruce Lee – Hidetaka Otonashi’s Jungle Pocket five-year-old Oken Bruce Lee is back after going down in a heart-stopping second in the Japan Cup last year, beaten by a mere nose by Vodka 12 months ago in a photo finish. Preparation hasn’t been ideal, Oken Bruce Lee having raced just once since their Japan Cup defeat finishing second to Meisho Beluga in the Kyoto Daishoten in October.

Pelusa – The Kazuo Fujisawa-trained three-year-old colt Pelusa is out to emulate their Japan Cup winning sire Zenno Rob Roy on Sunday. The talented galloper has the speed but perhaps not the concentration to beat a field of champions. Known for his poor gate manners, Pelusa is capable of greatness but may be a little green this year.

Rose Kingdom – King Kamehameha colt Rose Kingdom could be the value pick of the Japan Cup field. At longer odds, this in-form three-year-old has produced some very promising results over the season and trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi is very confident in their ability. Fit and ready to fight, Rose Kingdom has risen from strength to strength in recent starts, showing maturity and growing from a number of Grade race starts including a close second in the Derby.

Jaguar Mail – Winner of the Tenno Sho (Spring), one of Japan’s most testing staying races.

Meisho Beluga – Runner-up to Snow Fairy in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup last start, can rise and finish in the placings with a bit of luck.

Victoire Pisa

Shingen

International Horses in 2010 Japan Cup Field:

Marinous (France) – Considered one of the strongest international raiders in this year’s Japan Cup field. Took out the Grand Prix de Deauville earlier in the year, but needs a soft track to perform at his best.

Voila Ici (Italy) – Big race specialist in Italy with two Grade 1 seconds this year in the Premio Roma and the Premio Presidente, but the Japan Cup will be their first start on a left-handed track which could be a concern in the face of so many classy Japanese contenders with plenty of experience here.

Timos (France) – Five-year-old champion in France, has great experience on the left-handed tracks with all four of his career wins this way of going. Also proven at the distance having won three times over 2400m, but without a grade victory looks a little outclassed her.

Joshua Tree (Ireland) – Trained by one of the best in the business, Coolmore Stud’s Aidan O’Brien. Won the G1 Canadian International Stakes this year, the lightly raced Montjeu colt having now won three of their six starts. Loves the straight, so Tokyo track an advantage, and always hits the line hard so don’t rule them out just yet.

Fifty Proof (Canada) – Strong four-year-old gelding that has performed well over his nine starts scoring four wins. Was a gallant second in the G1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at his first graded race start and is a front runner that will likely set the pace, but whether they can hang on to finish in the top three is questionable.

Cirrus des Aigles (France) – Super consistent runner that has only finished out of the money in three of his 26 career starts. Very versatile having won over both right and left handed courses so should adapt to the Tokyo way of going well.

Mores Wells (France)

Dandiono (Great Britain)

The 2010 Japan Cup is scheduled as Race 10 at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday November 28, due to jump at 3:20pm (local time).

Visit Luxbet for the full Japan Cup odds and check out what’s happening on the Australian racing scene this weekend including markets for the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.

2010 Japan Cup Field

The Ed Dunlop-trained Snow Fairy claimed an impressive four length victory in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto in Japan earlier in the month, but connections have decided to bypass the Japan Cup.

Instead Snow Fairy will target either the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m) or the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin in mid December.

There are now a total of eight international runners in this year’s Japan Cup following Snow Fairy’s defection from the field.

Four of the overseas entries are from France with Cirrus des Aigles, Marinous, Mores Well and Timos; while four other countries will also be represented with Dandino (Great Britain), Joshua Tree (Ireland), Voila Ici (Italy) and Fifty Proof (Canada) set to line-up.

All of the foreign contenders have now arrived in Japan, Timos the last to touch down arriving on Saturday.

The international contingent faces a tough test against a start-studded field of Gr. 1 winning locals including the highly rated Nakayama Festa, Tenno Sho (Autumn) winning filly Buena Vista, Tenno Sho (Spring) champion Jaguar Mail, last year’s runner-up Oken Bruce Lee and Japanese Derby (Tokyo Yushun) winner from earlier in the year Eishin Flash.

Only two non Japanese-trained horses have won the Japan Cup in the past decade with Falbrav (2002) and Alkaased (2005).

The 30^th edition of the Japan Cup (2400m), worth over 528 million yen in prize money this year, will take place at Tokyo Racecourse on November 28.

Scheduled to run as Race 10 on the card for Sunday, the Japan Cup is due to jump at 3:20pm (local time).

The 2010 Japan Cup final field of acceptances will be released on Thursday November 25 and published here along with a comprehensive form guide and betting preview.

So get ready to get in on the Japan Cup action by signing up with a leading online bookmaker such as Luxbet or SportsBet who bring international racing alive with odds and markets on overseas features including the Japan Cup!

2010 Japan Cup International Horses

• Cirrus des Aigles (France)
• Marinous (France)
• Mores Well (France)
• Timos (France)
• Dandino (Great Britain)
• Joshua Tree (Ireland)
• Voila Ici (Italy)
• Fifty Proof (Canada)

The Brian Meehan-trained Dangerous Midge was one of 10 horses that had accepted invitations to the Japan Cup as of November 2, along with the likes of yesterday’s Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup winner Snow Fairy.

However connections are now targeting either the Dubai World Cup or the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March instead of the Japan Cup on November 28 at Tokyo.

Meehan stated on his website that they would like to make the trip to Japan next November and that he and owner Iraj Parvizi were very grateful to the Japan Racing Association.

Meanwhile, Ed Dunlop’s dual Oaks winner Snow Fairy claimed a classy four length win in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Commemorative Cup at Kyoto racecourse in Japan over the weekend.

A decision on whether the filly will back up in a fortnight by running in the Japan Cup will be made by her owners Anamoine Limited early this week.

“If we don’t run in the Japan Cup this year, we will certainly consider coming next year,” Dunlop said.

Anamoine Limited representative Patrick Cooper added, “It would be a great honour to be able to run her in the Japan Cup.”

The Japan Cup field is due to be released next week as will the online betting markets on the world’s richest turf race.

Australian punters can get in on the Japan Cup odds by signing up with leading bookie Luxbet today and even get a free $400 bonus bet by using the codeword EXTR400 when you join!

A Grade 1 race worth an incredible JP¥ 528,500,000 (approx. $5.5 million US), the Japan Cup is run over 2,400 and is an invitation only event set to attract an elite line-up of stayers from around the world.

Automatic Invitations to the Japan Cup 2010 go to the winner and runner-up of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe, as well as to the winner of the Arlington Million, Grosser Preis von Baden and the Irish Champion Stakes.

Currently 10 horses have accepted invitations for the 2010 Japan Cup, including Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Dangerous Midge from Britain, dual Oaks winning filly Snow Fairy and giant Canadian galloper Fifty Proof.

Australian racing fans and punters can also get in on the action of the Japan Cup with odds set to open on the great race at Luxbet within the next week.

So get ready for the international racing action of the Japan Cup 2010 by opening an account with the Tabcorp-owned Luxbet today!

Japan Cup 2010 Prize Money

2010 Japan Cup Prize Money for Winning Connections

* The currency exchange rate used in the charts are as follows.
(Approx. figures per exchange rates as of May 2010)

On Sunday the classy Katsuhiko Sumii-trained Vodka took out the 29^th running of the world’s richest turf race, the Group 1 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse in her third attempt.

It was an extremely close call, five-year-old Vodka starting as the odds-on favourite at $3.60 pulled up trumps in a photo finish over Oken Bruce Lee ($4.70) by a nose with Red Desire ($9.60) a further length and a half back in third. Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, the winner ran a sharp 2:22.4 seconds over the 2400m race, just outside of the Cumani-trained Alkaased’s race record of 2:22.1 set in 2005, in the third fastest Japan Cup in history.

With the victory Vodka, the 2008 Horse of the Year, became the first Japanese female runner to win the Japan Cup securing the winner’s prize of nearly US $2.8 million. The filly now boasts 10 victories from 25 career starts for over 1.3 billion yen in prizemoney earned.

The highest seeded international runner in the Cup was Conduit. The M. Stoute-trained horse coming off two successive Breeder’s Cup Turf victories, managed to finish a brave fourth on Sunday in the final race of his career and will now be sent to stud at the Big Red Farm in Hokkaido next year.

Last year’s Japan Cup winner Screen Hero ran a disappointing 13^th.

Vodka, by Tanino Gimlet out of Tanino Sister, pulled up with a nosebleed after her sixth top level win at Fuchu and has been ruled out of the Arima Kinen (2500m) at Nakayama in December.

2009 Japan Cup Results:

As a part of the four “Japan Autumn International” series races, the Japan Cup offers a total prize money amount of 533.5 million yen, approximately US$5.615 million.

However despite this large amount of money offered to horses and their owners, the race has failed to attract international competitors.

The new bonus system, which was originally only awarded to the Japan Cup and Japan Cup Dirt winners, offers horses who have competed in specific overseas races extra prize money if they finish in the top three places in the Japan Cup.

The list of international designated races include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Breeders’ Cup Turf, Breeders’ Cup Classic, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, The Derby, The Irish Derby, Prix du Jockey Club, Breeders’ Cup Classic and Dubai Sheema Classic.

With a track distance of 2400 metres on the Tokyo turf racecourse, the organisers of the Cup are hoping to attract the best 3 year old and over staying horses from around the world.

The system works by allowing the 2009 winner and runner-up and 2008 winner of each designated race to qualify for the bonus if it finishes in the top three places in the Japan Cup.

Depending on which designated race the horse was previously entered in, the winner of the Japan Cup will be awarded between AU$714 million and $1.857 million. The second placed horse will receive between AU$285,000 and $742,000 and the third will be awarded between AU$178,000 and $464,000.

This new scheme is also being applied to the country’s Japan Cup Dirt, the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup and the Mile Championship.