Japan last weekend staged its premier grass race, the G1 Japan Cup, and this week it is the turn of the country's star dirt horses in their showpiece, the G1 Champions Cup. This year's renewal sees a rematch of the top two from last year: Sound True (Jpn) (French Deputy) and Awardee (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}). Sound True is about as consistent as they come, having hit the board in 33 of 44 starts, and he seems to have a particular affinity for this race, having also finished third in 2015. Sound True was second to Apollo Kentucky (Langfuhr) in the Listed Nippon TV Hai on Sept. 27, and most recently bested K T Brave (Jpn) (Admire Max {Jpn}) in Ohi's Listed JBC Classic on Nov. 3. Trainer Noboru Takagi said, “Coming into the race after winning last time is perfect for him. In that last race, he picked up well from the third corner, found his natural rhythm, and finished things off nicely down the home straight.”
Awardee, a year-older half-brother to Lani (Tapit), contested this year's G1 Dubai World Cup, finishing fifth, and took the same route to this race as he did last year by prepping in the JBC Classic. While he won that race last year, he was fourth this time. Trainer Mikio Matsunaga explained, “He drew gate number one last time, and from the start it was clear things weren't going to develop well for him, and he didn't respond so well. Since the race, he's been working well and putting in some fast work, so things are fine with him.”
T M Jinsoku (Jpn) (Kurofune) could be a dirt star on the rise, having been in the top three in all eight starts this year including four wins. He took the G3 Miyako S. last out and tries Group 1 company for the first time here.
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