Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream has travelled safely to Japan to prepare for the Japan Cup on Sunday week.
The German-trained filly was one of the last three international contenders to arrive in Tokyo along with Arc runner-up Shareta and fellow French filly Sarah Lynx.
Danedream won the Arc by five lengths in record time and gave Andrasch Starke the honour of becoming the first German jockey to win Europe’s premier race.
Earlier in the year, the Peter Schiergen-trained Danedream won the Italian Oaks as well as the Grosser Preis von Baden and the Grosser Preis von Berlin.
Assistant trainer Ilke Hildebrand told japanracing.jp Danedream had travelled well.
“It was a long haul but she looks fine,” Hildebrand said.
Starke, who rode Caitano to a fourth-place finish in the 1997 Japan Cup, said although Hildebrand would ride the filly’s regular work but Starke will be on hand for her final gallop next week.
“We plan to do some fast work once before the race but haven’t decided just when,” Hildebrand said.
Danedream was bred in Germany by Gestut Brummerhof and is co-owned by Gestut Burg Eberstein and Japan’s Teruya Yoshida.
Sarah Lynx won the Canadian International at Woodbine at her last start.
She is trained by English-born, Chantilly-based John Hammond, whose charges have included Montjeu and Suave Dancer, both Arc winners.
Hammond’s assistant Kate Bradley said the journey from Europe had gone well.
“She’s eating well and very happy,” she said.
“We’ll decide on the work menu every day after consulting with the trainer.”
Shareta was also reported to have weathered the trip to Japan without a hitch.
“She’s very calm and quiet,” assistant trainer Jean-Michel Roux said.
Shareta is prepared by 2010 Melbourne Cup winning trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre for the Aga Khan.
The three fillies are all eligible for the JRA special bonus being offered to winners of designated races and, in some cases, the runners up.
Danedream, as winner of this year’s Arc, is eligible to top the Y250 million yen ($A3.22 million) for a Japan Cup win with an added 100 million yen.
Shareta, as Arc runner-up, could earn an additional 40 million yen and Sarah Lynx, as winner of the Canadian International, an extra 70 million yen.
AAP TURF
