The 56th Gr.2 Copa Republica Argentina, is the last big race before the Gr.1 Japan Cup It’s run over 2,500 meters on the turf track, the same distance as the Grade 2 Meguro Kinen held on Derby day.
Some of Japan's best will be contesting the JPY57 million feature. Here is a look at the choicest of those runners.
Noble Mars: The 5-year-old by Jungle Pocket has 29 career starts to his name, and has been in the first three home 19 times. His consistency was seen earlier this year when he finished second in the Grade 2 Meguro Kinen over the course and distance at Tokyo, and then most recently when third to Mikki Rocket in the Gr.1 Takarazuka Kinen over 2,200 meters at Hanshin in June.
Albert: A horse that doesn’t seem to know his age, the 7-year-old continues to run extremely well. He was fourth in last year’s Copa Republica Argentina, and second in the race in 2016, showing his liking for the race.
Ganko: The 5-year-old will be having his first run in the Copa Republica Argentina, but with a near 50% ratio of finishing in the top three places, the son of Nakayama Festa deserves respect here.
Perform a Promise: Racing in the colors of the Sunday Racing Co. Ltd., the 6-year-old by Stay Gold is six wins from 14 career starts and is under the current leading trainer, Hideaki Fujiwara. The horse has a Grade 2 win this year, as well as a third in the Grade 2 Meguro Kinen.
Muito Obrigado: The 4-year-old colt by Rulership is coming off three straight wins, all of them at Tokyo over 2,400 meters. He is now five wins from 15 starts, and runs in the colors of Ichikawa Yoshimi Holdings Co. Ltd., with the owner also breeding the horse.
Jinambo: Trained by Noriyuki Hori, the impeccably bred 3-year-old colt is by Deep Impact out of the Triple Crown mare Apapane, and has already shown what he can do by winning both his races so far.
Win Tenderness: This year’s Meguro Kinen winner is nominated for the Copa Republica Argentina and has performed well in his first year of taking on Grade 2 races.
Click here to watch Copa Republica Argentina Winner Race 2017
1st Suave Richard (Y. Shono,M. Demuro), 2nd Deep Impact (Y. Fukunaga),3rd Seda Brillantes (T. Tezuka,K. Tosaki), 4th Albert (N. Hori,A. Starke), 5th Curren Mirotic (O. Hirata,K. Ikezoe), 6th Toshin Monstera (A. Murayama,H. Kitamura), 7th Shiho (K. Sasada,H. Yoshida), 8th Denim and Ruby (K. Sumii,H. Tanabe), 9th Prestwick (Y. Muto,V. Cheminaud), 10th Happy Moment (K. Sumii,A. Tsumura)
Distance: 2500 metres, Surface: Turf, Track: Left-handed, Qualification: 3-y-o +, Colts & Fillies, Purse:¥57,000,000 (winner) ¥123,120,000 (total)