Conduit must overcome wide draw in Japan Cup
Japan: Conduit has been handed a wide draw in gate 16 of 18 for Sunday's Japan Cup in Tokyo, where he remains favourite with British bookmakers.
British-trained compatriot Scintillo, an outsider for the 476million yen (£3.31m) event, will start in stall 12.
Of the fancied domestic runners, superstar mare Vodka has been handed an ideal draw in five but last year's winner Screen Hero starts from the wide outside in gate 18.
There was a significant omission from the final field in Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Logi Universe, who picked up an injury in his final workout and misses the race.
The draw may not be a major factor given that Tokyo is quite a galloping track with sweeping bends, but a wide gate can hardly be construed as an advantage and British bookmakers generally eased Conduit slightly, although he remains a best-priced 5-2 market leader.
Travelling head lad Tony Cromby said he was hoping for a middle-to-outside draw. "The track surface near the rail looks a little rough," he said.
However, Vodka was a major market mover after the draw and is now as short as 7-2 with Ladbrokes, who alsocut last year's Japanese Leger winner Oken Bruce Lee to 6-1.
Conduit, bidding to become Sir Michael Stoute's third Japan Cup winner after Singspiel (1996) and Pilsudski (1997), had his first look at the Tokyo track on Thursday morningahead of his final career start.
Ridden by his regular exercise rider Neil Varley, the dual Breeders' Cup Turf winner did no more than a regulation canter on the Tokyo turf, where he is expected to be put in a final piece of work under Ryan Moore on Friday when Stoute will also be in attendance.
The four-year-old son of Dalakhani looked to have taken his Santa Anita exertions well, and seemed on good terms with himself in the Tokyo sunshine.
At a post-trackwork press conference, Cromby confirmed the horse's wellbeing.
"We think he's fresh and well, and in very good condition," said Cromby. "He lost a little weight on the journey over, but he's put that back on,and he's been eating and drinking well.
"But the Japan Cup is a tough race to win," he added. "There are a lot of Group 1 winners in the race, and there are a lot of very good horses that have come here over the years and failed to win a Japan Cup."
Work-rider Varley said he was "very happy" with Conduit and described him as "pretty well 100 per cent".
Richard Hannon jnr was also at the track to see Grand Prix de Chantilly winner Scintillo have a canter on the turf.
"He's doing okay," he said, "The track is in very good shape and should suit him. There's a lot of prize-money on offer and we'll be hoping to get some of it."
The three US hopes, Marsh Side, Just As Well and Interpatation, were also out on the track for the first time.
Marsh Side's trainer Neil Drysdale will be hoping for better luck than last year, when his horse came over to Tokyo but ran a temperature and had to be scratched.
"His preparations ahead of this race have gone very well," said Drysdale. "He was a little below par last time, but he's travelled well this time. The thing is he's a true mile-and-a- half horse, a big galloping horse, and he'll be suited by the track here in Tokyo, which is a bit like Woodbine in Canada. There aren't so many opportunities for him back home where the tracks are tighter."
Interpatation, who comes to Tokyo off his win over Gio Ponti in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on a soft turf course at Belmont Park in October, jogged on the dirt track.
Trainer Bobby Barbara said: "I don't think he wanted it that soft that day, he was just very game, and that's what he brings to his races.
Jonathan Sheppard, who saddled a winner, a second and a third at the Breeders' Cup meeting, by-passed the Breeders' Cup to bring Just As Well to Japan.
"He's lightly raced, and may be still improving. He stays well, and will be suited by a mile and a half on a stiff track," he said. "He'll race from off the pace - that's his style".
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