Shonan Pandora Surprises in Japan Cup

Shonan Pandora battled down the long Tokyo Racecourse stretch before posting a narrow upset victory in the Nov. 29 Japan Cup (Jpn-I) before a crowd of 102,960.

But the horse the 4-year-old Deep Impact (JPN) filly defeated by a neck wasn't the favorite, Lovely Day, but Last Impact (JPN), ridden for maximum impact by Ryan Moore. Lovely Day finished third, another neck behind after losing a stretch duel with Shonan Pandora in the ¥640,000,000 ($5.2 million) Japan Cup.

None of the four overseas contenders had much impact despite predictions this would be a down year for the Japanese horses, who usually dominate the event.

Erupt, the 3-year-old colt who finished fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), finished sixth Sunday. Trip to Paris, trained by Ed Dunlop to a second-place finish in the Caulfield Cup (Aus-I) and fourth in the Melbourne Cup (Aus-I), was 14th. The German contenders, Nightflower and Ito, checked in 11th and last of 18, respectively.

Gold Ship, a favorite with the crowd despite his frequent pre-race antics, was no problem before the race and put in a big move midway around the stretch turn, setting off the final scramble for position. But he couldn't sustain the momentum in his first start since June and finished 10th. He is expected to have one more start before retirement.

Shonan Pandora is out of the French Deputy mare Cutie Gold. She was bred by Shadai Corp. and is owned by Tetsuhide Kunimoto. Kenichi Ikezoe rode for trainer Tomokazu Takano.

After breaking from post 15, Ikezoe kept Shonan Pandora in mid-field just outside rivals. She raced there up the backstretch until Gold Ship, a distinctive light gray, started his move.

"All the horses started to rush for a good position and there was some bumping," Ikezoe said. "Her path was narrowed. I just hoped she would get out of there and she did."

At that point, Lovely Day appeared the only dangerous rival, running just inside Shonan Pandora. Moore, however, had saved all the ground and had Last Impact flying up the rail.

"I knew I had Lovely Day pinned down," Ikezoe said. "I didn't even know who that was on the inside. I was just praying we had crossed the wire first."

The 2,400 meters, or about 1 1/2 miles, went in 2:24.7 on firm turf.

Shonan Pandora won the 2,000-meter Shuka Sho (Jpn-I) last fall at Kyoto for her only previous win at the highest level. In her last start before the Japan Cup, however, she was fourth in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), a race won by Lovely Day. She has won five of 16 career starts.

"We weren't sure that we were going to the Japan Cup," Takano said. "We'll see how she fares. I haven't even said a word to the owners yet about her next race, which could be the Arima Kinen (Jpn-I) in December."

Asked about taking the filly overseas next year, he said: "She is a very small-built filly and there are a lot of races in Japan where she could show her strength. It will be totally up to the owner."

"She is a filly with an independent mind," Takano said. "She isn't a bad horse but she is territorial."

The poor showing by the overseas contingent could have an impact on the Longines Hong Kong Vase (HK-I) Dec. 13. Ito, Trip to Paris, and Erupt all are among the 14 entered for that 2,400-meter event at Sha Tin.

Erupt's trainer, Francis-Henri Graffard, shrugged when asked if his horse might continue to Hong Kong. Plans for the other two also were not immediately determined.