Two days after a testing work over a Tokyo turf course with plenty of ease in
it, Mission Approved, the one-time claimer who upset champion Gio Ponti Grade 1
Manhattan Handicap, jogged a couple of laps on the dirt course under the
watchful eye of trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul.
“After a day of rest, he was very fresh (Tuesday) morning — maybe too fresh,
so we let him jog two laps instead of one,” Chatterpaul explained. “Basically,
horses jog right-handed and gallop left-handed when they train in the U.S.
That’s why he jogged right-handed this morning. He goes stronger when he’s
moving left-handed.”
The seven-year-old got the day off Monday after working seven furlongs over a
rain-affected turf Sunday morning with a final clocking of 1:29.10 beneath local
rider Hiroki Goto. Mission Approved was strong through the opening stages of the
breeze, covering the opening half-mile in :49.60 before covering his next
furlong in :11.50 for a five-furlong time of 1:02.10.
“The horse is a real fighter, just like a lot of horses I’ve seen in the
U.S.,” Goto said. “His gallop this morning was more than anyone could ask for,
considering that it’s a whole week to the race.”
The trio of European-based fillies who will start in Sunday’s feature made
the two-hour journey from the Shiroi quarantine facilities to Tokyo Racecourse,
arriving just before 1 p.m. local time. Since its inception in 1981, no horse
has been able to complete the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe/Japan Cup
double, but Danedream will try to do just that this weekend. The filly had an
uneventful passage to Tokyo and has looked well while exercising at Shiroi.
“She was very calm and laid back during the trip from the quarantine
stables,” said Ilke Hildebrand, representing the Peter Schiergen stable. “She
did lose some weight because of the long overseas journey, but she has a good
appetite, so I’m not worried. Our trainer will be here to check on the horse
later this afternoon, so he’ll probably decide then whether our jockey will do
any strong work with her (Wednesday).”
The fairer sex will also be represented by Group 1 Canadian International
Sarah Lynx and Arc runner-up Shareta.