Masterful Ryan Moore steers Vela Azul to Japan Cup glory

Ryan Moore struck with a masterful ride to land the £2.5m first prize for connections in the Japan Cup at Tokyo, the rider’s 16th top-level triumph across five different countries in a golden autumn of 2022 and a remarkable year in the saddle.

Japan’s most notable international race and the 42nd running of the big prize, Moore settled his mount in behind runners off what was a steady early pace yet smuggled Vela Azul (7-2) through the field as the pace quickened in the straight to get up by three-quarters of a length under a perfectly-timed challenge to see off Dubai Sheema Classic winner Shahryar in second (12-5F) with Weltreisende (17-2) close up in third.

Tom Marquand, the only other British rider in the race, finished fourth aboard 12-1 chance Daring Tact while French-trained duo Grand Glory and Onesto fared best of the small group of European raiders, finishing sixth and seventh respectively.

Speaking to Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme en-route to the airport just a few hours after the race, Moore said: “It was a messy race.

“The pace was steady – unusually so for a Japan Cup – and it never really got sorted out until we got into the straight. There were a lot of horses still there at the two [furlong marker].

"I had a nice run but got held up after choosing to go the wrong way when I turned in and I had to switch back in, but I got a beautiful run through in the last furlong and my horse quickened up well so I had a good slice of luck and a talented horse to get me out of trouble.”

Moore was riding for first-time Japan Cup winner Kunihiko Watanabe in the mile-and-a-half showpiece and Vela Azul proved equal to the test of Japan’s richest race after Grade Two success at Hanshin.

Watanabe said: “The pace was rather slow, but my horse has a good late charge and I trusted him to make a good run.

"He was in good condition coming into this race, but he exceeded our expectation.

"He is a five-year-old, but he gets better and better and still has room for improvement. The reason for racing him on dirt early in his career was because he had leg issues (fractures) as a young colt and in order to race him with less risk he was raced on dirt.

"However, I did think he had an aptitude to race well on turf and it was only a matter of timing as to when to shift to turf racing."

Moore won the Japan Cup back in 2013 aboard Gentildonna and the rider told Nick Luck that he felt privileged to be back in Japan for the big race.

“I was delighted to be here,” said the rider.

“They capped the attendance to 60,000 – previously it would be double that I think – and everyone is still coming out of Covid here so every one is told to keep quiet and keep their masks on!

“There was a lot of people on track and they love their racing. It was a good day.”