Third to the retiring Contrail as a sophomore in the 2021 Japan Cup (G1), Shahryar now finds himself the captain of the home team in Sunday’s edition at Tokyo.

After besting Contrail in the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1), sophomore star Efforia will try to topple defending champion Chrono Genesis in Sunday’s Arima Kinen (G1) at Nakayama.

Fresh off a ground-breaking Breeders’ Cup double with Loves Only You and Marche Lorraine, trainer Yoshito Yahagi hopes to fill another lacuna on his resume in Sunday’s $6.1 million Japan Cup (G1).