2025 Japan Cup: runner-by-runner guide

Jockey: Cristian Demuro

Far from prolific (three wins from 20 starts) and overall form a notch below the best of these, but did fill fifth spot in last year’s renewal the last time he was ridden by Demuro. Won the 2023 Tenno Sho (Spring) over two miles so will likely need a stronger pace than 12 months ago to be seen at his best.

Jockey: Yuichi Kitamura 

Exciting, unexposed three-year-old colt who readily won the Japanese Derby in June and then showed plenty of resolution to fend off Daryz in a Longchamp warm-up for the Arc. Clearly not himself - “He just never relaxed,” said jockey Yuichi Kitamura - when a long way behind that same rival in the Arc itself, but likely to be much more at home here. Looks a big player for owners who won this with three-year-old Gentildonna in 2012.

Jockey:  Yuji Tannai

No win since March 2024 and has generally kept lesser company than this. Has four lengths to find on Masquerade Ball (and others) on his run in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) earlier this month. Would be a shock winner.

Jockey: Kohei Matsuyama

Gradual progress this season, culminating in a Grade 2 win at Kyoto last month when stepped back up to this trip. Clear career-best-effort needed to play a major part in the finish here, though.

Jockey: Kenichi Ikezoe

Below the level of Danon Decile and co as a three-year-old but improved for a thorough examination of stamina when storming clear over 1m7f at Hanshin in March. Seemingly beaten fair and square in the Tenno Sho (Spring) six weeks later, and when half a length behind Deep Monster last time, but that was clearly a warm-up and no surprise to see a good run at a big price here.

Jockey: Yasunari Iwata

Sole win remains a handicap at Hakodate last July and whilst he has gone close in Grade 2 company since, hasn’t made any impression at the top table including when only beating one home in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) won by Masquerade Ball. Stamina to prove, too.

Jockey: Daisuke Sasaki

Has kept very good company since landing a Grade 3 here back in February 2022, with two very notable placed efforts behind Lord North and Facteur Cheval in back-to-back renewals of the Dubai Turf at Meydan. Underwhelming return to action when last seen in August but this has clearly been the plan for some time and should take a big step forward. Could improve on last year’s ninth as a result.

Jockey: Mickael Barzalona

French star - European Horse of the Year - who was possibly on the verge of becoming frustrating when beaten by Danon Decile in April’s Sheema Classic at Meydan, his third runner-up finish in a row after defeats at York by City Of Troy and Ascot by Anmaat. Similar story when beaten by Jan Brueghel at Epsom in June, but seems to have turned a corner since, his three wins all recorded in impressive fashion, most notably when beating Ombudsman by two and a quarter lengths in the Champion Stakes last month. Leading form contender.

Jockey: Akihide Tsumura

Fukushima handicap winner last summer who has since added a Grade 3 here over nine furlongs. Questions marks over both stamina and class given his midfield finish in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) last time out.

Jockey: Akira Sugawara

Lightly-raced six-year-old who hasn’t gone on from two Grade 2 wins in early-2024. Beaten in a handicap here earlier this month and surely out of his depth here.

Jockey: Yuga Kawada

Japanese St Leger third who returned with a gritty handicap success here in June. Couldn’t repeat the dose when only fourth behind Deep Monster last time but less exposed than most of his rivals and there could still be significant progress to come.

Jockey: Mirai Iwata

Seven-year-old who Mirai Iwata knows well, having been on board for both recent wins, but is yet to show that he is up to this sort of test. Easily opposable.

Jockey: Tom Marquand

Sole mare in the field who has always been highly regarded, rewarding favourite backers when landing the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto in late-2023 and then belying an 11-month absence when following up in a Grade 2 here over nine furlongs the following October. No joy since, and well held on her run behind Masquerade Ball last time, though. Up in trip here under Tom Marquand.

Jockey: Keita Tosaki

2024 Japanese Derby winner who probably found his stamina stretched when only sixth in the Japanese St Leger the following October. Sprang a small surprise when seeing off Calandagan in the Sheema Classic but couldn’t reward backers – sent off at just 7/2 - when only beating one home (Daryz) in the Juddmonte International won by Ombudsman after which his jockey explained, “He seemed a little excited from the warm-up, which I think was one of the reasons he wasn't able to show his true potential”. Leading player if he can settle early on.

Jockey: Christophe Lemaire

Long way behind Croix Du Nord as a juvenile but has improved markedly since, stepping up on his Japanese 2000 Guineas runner-up effort when only three quarters of a length behind Croix Du Nord over C&D six weeks later. Duly won the Tenno Sho (Autumn) under Christophe Lemaire and holds several of these on that effort. Could easily be more improvement to come and must be thereabouts as long as the gallop is honest throughout.

Jockey:  Ryusei Sakai 

Last year’s dead-heating runner-up is a more familiar face than some having extensively travelled since finishing third to Danon Decile in the Japanese Derby, filling the same spot behind Economics in the 2024 Irish Champion Stakes and – having taken in France and Dubai in-between – returned to Leopardstown in September but could only manage a well-beaten sixth behind Delacroix having made the running. Plenty of talent and has conditions to suit, so shouldn't be far away once more.

Jockey: Alexis Pouchin

Climbed the ladder before securing the Japanese St Leger in October 2023. Hasn’t added to his tally since but got as close as he ever has when dead-heating for second here with Shin Emperor 12 months ago. Was sent on at halfway by William Buick on that occasion due to a lack of pace, which undoubtedly helped his finishing position, and will need the cards to fall right once more if he is to go one better. Well beaten on his prep run behind Deep Monster when last seen.

Jockey: Damian Lane

2023 Japanese Derby winner who has produced a series of strong placed efforts since, most notably when chasing home Do Deuce in last year’s Tenno Sho (Autumn) and then when filling third behind Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin. Got his head back in front in the QEII Cup back there in April and then, according to his trainer, wasn’t given the best ride - ‘any horse would have stalled’ - when only eighth behind Masquerade Ball earlier this month. This would be a high-profile way for Damian Lane to make amends.

The last three winners of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) to have then run in this race all prevailed - Almond Eye in 2020, Equinox in 2023 and Do Deuce last year – which will give backers of the favourite Masquerade Ball plenty of hope, though his trainer Takahisa Tezuka, who is yet to win the Japan Cup, has voiced some concerns over the quick turnaround and the effect it might have on the three-year-old colt’s mental state.

Sole European challenger Calandagan must surely go close as he bids to become the first non-Japanese winner since Luca Cumani saddled Alkaased to win the 2005 renewal, the French superstar possessing more quality than many European horses saddled over the years, but this is a very different race to most of the small-field contests that he has mopped up since his Epsom flop and it remains to be seen how much his defeat of Ombudsman/travelling to Japan has taken out of him.

Instead, narrow preference is for the other 125-rated runner in the field, Danon Decile, who is officially considered 4lb superior to Masquerade Ball in terms of the home team. He already has a defeat of Calandagan to his name and is likely to be ridden more prominently than that rival as he bids to bounce back - as Daryz did - from his August flop on the Knavesmire.

“The race didn’t take much out of him, so given the intense summer heat here, I let him spend the summer in England. We haven’t had any troubles since returning to Japan,” explained his trainer Shogo Yasuda recently.

Hopefully the race itself goes as smoothly for Danon Decile, who is available with British bookmakers at around the 11/2 mark.