Craig Williams’ Japan Cup mount Tosen Jordan is considered a leading contender for Sunday’s $6.5 million event but will have to overcome German-trained filly Danedream.
Danedream, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in record time in Paris last month, has settled in and pleased connections in her trackwork on Wednesday ahead of the 2400m feature in Tokyo.
“I asked the jockey to drive her a bit strongly in the last 600 metres,” Danedream’s trainer Peter Schiergen told japanracing.jp.
“We used the dirt course because the turf was a bit too firm, but I’m very satisfied with the condition she is in.”
“She’s in the same form as she was for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, so our hopes are high.”
TAB Sportsbet opened its Japan Cup market on Thursday with Danedream $3.50 favourite ahead of Buena Vista at $6.
Tosen Jordan, to be ridden by Williams, is next at $8.
Tosen Jordan won the Group One Tenno Sho (Autumn) in Japan in a national record time for 2000m last month.
Williams left for a six-week Japanese riding stint earlier this week after being the jockey of the spring carnival in Melbourne with big race victories in the Caulfield Cup (Southern Speed) and Cox Plate (Pinker Pinker).
He also won the Geelong Cup on Dunaden but suspension cost him the ride in the Melbourne Cup.
The French-trained Dunaden took out the $6 million event at Flemington with Christophe Lemaire in the saddle.
Williams bounced back from suspension with four winners on Sandown Guineas day and then won the Group One Winterbottom Stakes and Group Two WA Guineas in Perth last Saturday.
AAP TURF
