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Marsh Side, Tin Cup Chalice arrive in Japan Canadian International (Can-G1) hero MARSH SIDE (Gone West) and Indiana Derby (G2) victor TIN CUP CHALICE (Crusader Sword) are among five international shippers who arrived safely at Narita Airport in Japan on Thursday. Marsh Side is eyeing the November 30 Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), while Tin Cup Chalice is aiming for the December 7 Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1). Both were transported to the JRA Horseracing School Quarantine Center in Shiroi City early Thursday afternoon. "It was a smooth flight and the horse (Marsh Side) seems to have slept pretty well," said Derek Oldham, assistant to trainer Neil Drysdale. "We could not get water replacement, so he took two liters of water after arriving at Shiroi. The prize money is high and draws worldwide attention. We will give it our best." Japan's richest race, worth approximately $5,079,600, the 28th Japan Cup will be run at about 1 1/2 miles at the left-handed Tokyo Racecourse. The other three international shippers are from England -- multiple Group 2 winner PAPAL BULL (Montjeu [Ire]), seventh in last year's Japan Cup and last seen finishing 12th to Zarkava in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1); classic scorer SIXTIES ICON (GB) (Galileo [Ire]), a slightly troubled fifth in the Breeders' Cup Marathon in his latest; and 2007 Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) near-misser PURPLE MOON (Galileo [Ire]), most recently beaten a neck when second in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Fr-G2). They too have settled in at the Quarantine Center in Shiroi City. The Japan Cup Dirt, to be staged at about 1 1/8 miles at the right-handed Hanshin Racecourse, boasts a purse of approximately $2,646,100. Tin Cup Chalice is in fine condition after a 24-hour travel from his home base at Finger Lakes. "It was his first long-distance flight, but he is not showing any fatigue and is doing great," groom Jan Keuer said. "He has a good appetite and I'm just relieved. It's his first day here, so we'll only walk him around. We'll enter the track from tomorrow and begin light training. If all goes well here (at Shiroi), we'll give him one hard workout before we move to Hanshin Racecourse." The first horse to sweep the "Big Apple Triple" for New York-bred three-year-olds, Tin Cup Chalice was presented with the horse of the year honors from the Finger Lakes Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association awards this past Sunday. Tin Cup Chalice is the first of three projected American representatives to pitch camp, with Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) victor MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast) and Suburban H. (G1) winner FROST GIANT (Giant's Causeway) also expected to ship in for the dirt affair.
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