Japan pulls out all stops to pip Ocean
Improving colt 5-1 for Arc after brave victory Gosden undecided over Leger run for Logician
When Japan ran out a clear-cut winner of Ascot’s King Edward VII Stakes in June he gave the impression that, had he been ready, he would have won the Derby and, yesterday, he belatedly arrived at the summit of the three-year-old middle distance rankings when he beat Crystal Ocean by a head to win a thrilling Juddmonte International.
The Ballydoyle colt, already the winner of the Grand Prix de Paris over the Prix de L’arc de Triomphe course and distance, now looks like the biggest obstacle standing between Enable and a third Arc success and is 5-1 for his return to Longchamp in October.
Besides ability, he has a fine attitude because no one beats the admirably brave Crystal Ocean without having to roll up their sleeves and when James Doyle took Sir Michael Stoute’s stalwart to the front two out, Ryan Moore had already been working away at Japan for some time.
But gradually Aidan O’brien’s Galileo colt, who was third at Epsom after a delayed start to the season, got there over this 10 furlongs, a trip probably short of his best. Despite Crystal Ocean refusing to go quietly, Japan maintained his narrow advantage to the line although the gallant runner-up, who went into the race the toprated horse in the world, was back in front a stride past the post.
“He is a lovely horse,” said Moore. “We always thought a lot of him and he has got better every time he has run. I thought he was a proper horse in the Dante. Crystal Ocean never runs a bad race – it is something for a three-year-old to beat him.”
O’brien, whose sixth International victory this was, clearly sees Japan as the pick of his three-yearolds although they have taken some sifting this season. “He has got better and better. He gets a mile and a half but we didn’t want to bottom him with the autumn coming so ran him over a mile and a quarter.
“He came out of Longchamp well. France was easy for him but it was steadily run and he will never win by far – that is what slightly surprised us about Ascot [a 4½ length win] but when he got there that day the rest died away. Good mile-anda-half horses have the class to win over a mile and a quarter.”
One suspects Stoute would willingly swap Crystal Ocean’s top ranking for a second Group One to add to the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. His impressive collection of seconds includes two King Georges, a St Leger, a Champion Stakes and, now, an International, nearly all narrowly.
“He ran another brilliant race and was brave as a lion. He just didn’t win,” said Stoute.
Elarqam was a length back in third with King of Comedy, a bit fresh for his own good, in fourth. But if John Gosden and Frankie Dettori missed out there, they surely have the St Leger in their sights after the grey Logician beat Ballydoyle’s Constantinople by 1¾ lengths with seven lengths back to the third in the Sky Bet Great Voltiguer Stakes.
He is 9-4 favourite for Doncaster but hold your bets. “He’s a tender young horse. We will see how he is in the next 10 days. We could chose to keep him at a mile and a half,” said Gosden.