Woodbine's Fifty Proof Chasing Japan Cup

A familiar name on the Woodbine scene will try his luck on Sunday in Japan, as Fifty Proof looks to capture the Grade I Japan Cup. The race will be run over one mile and a half on a firm turf course at Tokyo Racecourse. Not only is Fifty Proof entered into this race, but followers of the Woodbine Circuit may also know Joshua Tree and Mores Wells who ran one, two respectively in the Pattison Canadian International just over a month ago.

The large 20 horse field features horses from six different countries. Japan, France, Great Britain, Canada, Ireland and Italy are all represented, which really makes this race feel like a World Cup. Fifty Proof will break from post 15, right next to Joshua Tree. With his style of running, I don't think that Fifty Proof will have an issue with the post. Fifty Proof likes to run in front, as he led most of the way in the International, and reading interviews with trainer Ian Black, it appears he would like Fifty Proof to sit right off the lead. This will be a good strategy for this race since there could be a lot of traffic in the 20 horse field.

It appears it will be a tough task for the overseas horses to win in Japan this year as a non-Japanese horse has only won this event twice in the 29 years it's been run. Top Japanese horses Nakayama Festa and Buena Vista appear to be the favourites to win this race, and the top oversears contender appears to be French horse Marinous. Nakayama Festa ran second to Workforce in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France on October 3rd.

Woodbine fans can catch coverage from Tokyo Racecourse live, beginning at 1:00 a.m. on Sunday Morning. HPITV will broadcast races eight through 12 of Tokyo's racing program and the Japan Cup is Race 10. Good luck to Fifty Proof and his connections!

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