maxwin
16-07-2002, 19:13
http://www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz/news_pics/388346_5499.jpg
The Nakayama racetrack - Home of this years $US3.8 million Japan Cup
The running of the 2003 Japan Cup on Sunday 24 November will be even easier to win this year as participants will only be required to run 2200 metres instead of the usual 2400 metres.
JRA Sydney representative Kei Fujimara, who was at Trentham to witness the premier day's racing, confirmed that this years race would be unable to be run at Tokyo due to major track and facility developments.
"As a result the race will now need to be run at Nakayama, which will mean the distance will need to be reduced as the 2400 metre start is not on a suitable part of the course", Kujimara told Thoroughbred NEWS.
As a result of the change to the Nakayama track, this year's race will also be run right handed; something that Fujimara was quick to seize on when talking to Leica Guv's trainer Jeff McVean.
McVean was adamant that the Deputy Governor gelding was much better right handed than left - a thought that would have been shared by the punters that backed him in the Avondale Guineas and NZ Derby.
Nominations for this year's invitation only race, which carries a first prize pool of $US2 million ($US120,000 for running 8th) and is restriced to 16 runners (with a maximum of 10 internationally trained runners), closes at noon on October 12. - thoroughbrednews
The Nakayama racetrack - Home of this years $US3.8 million Japan Cup
The running of the 2003 Japan Cup on Sunday 24 November will be even easier to win this year as participants will only be required to run 2200 metres instead of the usual 2400 metres.
JRA Sydney representative Kei Fujimara, who was at Trentham to witness the premier day's racing, confirmed that this years race would be unable to be run at Tokyo due to major track and facility developments.
"As a result the race will now need to be run at Nakayama, which will mean the distance will need to be reduced as the 2400 metre start is not on a suitable part of the course", Kujimara told Thoroughbred NEWS.
As a result of the change to the Nakayama track, this year's race will also be run right handed; something that Fujimara was quick to seize on when talking to Leica Guv's trainer Jeff McVean.
McVean was adamant that the Deputy Governor gelding was much better right handed than left - a thought that would have been shared by the punters that backed him in the Avondale Guineas and NZ Derby.
Nominations for this year's invitation only race, which carries a first prize pool of $US2 million ($US120,000 for running 8th) and is restriced to 16 runners (with a maximum of 10 internationally trained runners), closes at noon on October 12. - thoroughbrednews