Track Notes Heading into the Japan Cup and Dirt Races

Edited from Japan Racing Association notes

TRAINING REPORT
22nd running of the Japan Cup, Nov. 24, 2002
3rd running of the Japan Cup Dirt Nov. 23, 2002

Japan Cup Entrants

STORMING HOME (ENG, colt c. 4yo)
Currently stbled at Shiroi Quarantine Stables
"He's eating all his feed, so I think he's gotten over much of the tiredness from the trip but we'll just hand-walk him and let him relax for today. We'll gradually build him up on his training and start from light work and maybe do a little fast work once or twice next week."

"Storming Home can be mischievous at times but has a very friendly character."--Geoffrey Snook, exercise rider

INDIGENOUS and RED SUN, the two contenders from Hong Kong, arrived at Narita Airport on the 12th of November on flight KZ202 at 6:54 p.m. Both horses were transported by horse van reaching the quarantine stables at Shiroi at 9:25 p.m. the same day.

INDIGENOUS (IRE, bay g. 9yo)
Currently stabled at Shiroi Quarantine Stables
"It's our third time to come here with Indigenous and the horse is just as usual-fit and eating well. I think we'll be working him tomorrow but I'll have to check with the trainer over the phone first. He's nine years old so he's very settled and easy to handle."--Wong Sau Fung, exercise rider

Japan Cup Dirt Entries

ABREEZE (USA, bay g. 7yo)
The horse moved from Shiroi for Nakayama Racecourse on Tuesday, Nov. 12. On Wednesday Bernard Dalton exercised the horse around 8 a.m.

"Everything has gone well up to now and his training at Shiroi went smoothly thanks to the excellent training grounds. We were taken good care of."

"He's in fine condition but we have much respect for the Japanese horses so I'm not saying that we'll win easily, but I do think he stands a good chance."
"Besides his gallop at Nakayama on the 19th, he'll do what will be similar to what we've done here at Shiroi."

"We hand-walked him but he seems fine. I had a look at the dirt tracks here at Nakayama. The sand looks relatively shallow so I presume we'll have a fast paced race. I'm looking forward to it."--Neal McLaughlin, representative for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin

RED SUN (ARG, gray h. 6yo)
"There's nothing wrong with him but he is a little tired from his trip and is a little down on his appetite. I'll report his state to his trainer and see what we'll do about his training. Tomorrow, we'll warm him up in the schooling arena and then maybe canter him on the tracks."

"He's usually a quiet horse but can go into mischief when people walk by."--So Wai Yin-exercise rider