Irish Oaks Champ Magical Lagoon vs Japan Stars in QE II

The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) Nov. 13 at Hanshin Racecourse unfolds as an international, intergenerational battle of Oaks winners as Ireland's Magical Lagoon  reopens Japanese racing to foreign runners at season's end.

Magical Lagoon, the reigning Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1) champion, will be the first foreign runner in the 2,200-meter (about 1 5/8 miles) QE II since Snow Fairy  won for the second time in 2011.

The Galileo  filly also is the first Japanese starter for trainer Jessica Harrington and breaks the pandemic-inspired barriers for overseas runners with five slated to go in next month's Japan Cup (G1) and the Bill Mott-trained War Like Goddess  nominated to the Arima Kinen (G1) on Christmas Day.

International travelers never find an easy time in Japan and Magical Lagoon will be no exception. The field lining up against her includes the second- and third-place finishers from the May 22 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1), Stunning Rose and Namur, although the winner of that race, Stars on Earth, takes a pass.

The older generation is headed by 2020 Japanese filly Triple Crown winner Daring Tact , third place-getter in the legendary 2020 Japan Cup that served as a victorious finale for Almond Eye  with colts' Triple Crown winner Contrail second.

Harrington does not plan to attend the QE II Cup but said from home she reckons the trip should suit her filly, also the winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot, as she tries older rivals for the first time.

Magical Lagoon did a light turn on the course Nov. 11 under race-day rider Shane Foley and international liaison Kate Harrington reported all went well.

"Shane did a routine canter and breezed her for about a furlong and a half. He was very happy with her. She's fresh, fit and ready to go. We couldn't be happier," Harrington said.

She also said the No. 5 barrier draw "is a nice draw—not too close to the rails and not too far outside. We're very happy because this is where we wanted to be."

The QE II purse is the equivalent of about US$2.45 million with $1.13 million to the winner but, as the winner of the Irish Oaks, Magical Lagoon also is eligible for bonuses up to $700,000 for a victory.

Stunning Rose looks to be the most formidable of the locals. The King Kamehameha  filly followed her second-place finish in the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2 miles) Oaks with a win going 2,000 meters in a grade 3 affair at Nakayama Racecourse after a summer break, then rolled to an impressive victory in the Shuka Sho (G1) Oct. 16 at the same trip at Hanshin.

Trainer Tomokazu Takano handles both Stunning Rose and Namur and said the conditions of the QE II should suit both fillies.

Stunning Rose "will be back at Hanshin again and I don't think there'll be a problem with the distance, when you consider she was second in the Oaks," Takano said. "I also think she can do well against the older horses."

Namur, by Harbinger , was second in the Shuka Sho and Takano said an outside trip might have compromised her chances there, adding, "It's something to be careful about."

Daring Tact, a daughter of Epiphaneia , suffered her first loss in the 2020 Japan Cup after five straight victories. She has not won in five intervening starts but can't be said to have disappointed totally with thirds in last year's QE II Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, behind winner Loves Only You , and the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) in June. She was sixth in a comeback race Sept. 25.

"I think she'll be in better condition than she was for her last race," said trainer Haruki Sugiyama. "It should be a similar race over the 2,200 meters to the Takarazuka Kinen, where she ran a good race."

The QE II starts in front of the Hanshin grandstand and runs right-handed around the inner turf course with a second charge down the stretch including a sharp uphill climb before the winning post.