Dubai: Belgium’s Christophe Soumillion demonstrated why he is regarded as the man for the big occasion when combining with champion filly Epiphaneia to capture the Grade I $5.8 million (Dh21.3 million) Japan Cup at Tokyo on Sunday.
Tactically brilliant and a great judge of pace, the 33-year-old Soumillion took over the running aboard the Japanese St. Leger (G1) winner a long way from home in the 2400 metre contest before tearing away from the rest of his 17 rivals in the straight to post an imposing five-length victory.
Just A Way, the Dubai Duty Free (G1) scorer at Meydan in March and the highest rated horse in the race, ran on for second while Tenno Sho (Autum) winner Spielberg, was third.
Japanese favourite Gentildonna, who was bidding for a record third straight Japan Cup victory, never raised a serious challenge under Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Ryan Moore, and could only finish fourth.
Irish-trained Trading Leather, the big Godolphin hope, failed to finish the race after being pulled up by jockey Kevin Manning in the straight.
Before the race, Soumillon had warned his rivals when he tweeted: “My ride in the Japan Cup 2014! Champion filly Epiphaneas!!! Very excited to be back in the cup with a winning chance!!”
It was a deserving first Japan Cup success for the Belgian, after lost the race in the Steward room in 2010 despite crossing the post first aboard the decisive winner Buena Vista. The winner was qualified for causing interference to Rose Kingdom, who placed second behind the Japanese Guineas winner Victoire Pisa.
It was the first time that a horse had been disqualified in the Japan Cup.
However, Soumillion, who has recorded big race wins in 11 countries including the UAE, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan and the USA, gained revenge with today’s victory.
The Belgian’s most famous wins in Dubai came aboard Musir in the 2010 UAE Derby and Terre a Terre in the 2002 Dubai Duty Free Stakes. He has also won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s most prestigious race, twice with Zarkava in 2008 and Dalkahani in 2003.
Epiphaneia was giving Japanese trainer Katsuhiko Sumii a second Japan Cup after Vodka in 2009. Sumii also won the 2011 Dubai World Cup (G1) with Victoire Pisa and the 2006 Melbourne Cup with Delta Blues.
Epiphaneia, a Japanese-bred son of Symboli Kris continued a strong record for four-year-old horses the race when becoming the fifth winner in the last ten years. Despite the moderate pace in which the race was run Epiphaneia just missed breaking the track record set by Alkaased in 2005 by one second when he crossed the line in 2:23:01 seconds.
The best of the international runners was the German raider and Grosser Preis von Baden (G1) winner Ivanhowe who finished a creditable sixth.
