Travelling foremen Robin Trevor-Jones has confirmed that Trip To Paris will leave the Werribee International Equine Centre this evening to head to Japan for the 2015 Japan Cup.
Trip To Paris had his final trackwork gallop in Australia this morning ahead of his trip for the 2015 Japan Cup. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Trip To Paris made his Australian racing debut with a fast-finishing second behind Mongolian Khan in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 17 and he was one of the best-backed runners in the lead-up to the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Tommy Berry settled Trip To Paris right on the speed in the early stages of the Melbourne Cup, but the hoop arguably waited too long to push the button on the son of Champs Elysees and in the sprint to the finish he could finish no better than fourth behind Prince Of Penzance, Max Dynamite and Criterion.
Trevor-Jones told Sky Racing HQ that Trip To Paris had come out of his Melbourne Cup run in excellent condition, but he admits that the tough gelding faces a very difficult challenge against Japan’s best stayers in the Group 1 Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo on November 29
“We fly at about 5.30 this evening and we will be in Japan tomorrow morning,” Trevor-Jones said
“The Japan Cup is always tough, there is no getting around that and it will be a great race.
“We are there and we are fit.
“He worked yesterday and he worked very well, so we are looking forward to it.
“He is showing the right signs that he has come out of the Melbourne Cup well and he is ready to go again.”
The Japan Cup is an invitational race and fellow European stayers Erupt, Ito and Nightflower are set to join Trip To Paris in the Japan Cup field.
Erupt took out the Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix De Paris (2400m) at Longchamp earlier this year before he finished a more than credible fifth behind Golden Horn in the Group 1 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe (2400m) at the same venue on October 4 and he looks the best of the European contingent.
Ito finished second in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin (2414m) and fourth in the Group 1 Preis von Europa (2414m) in Germany earlier this year, while Nightflower was successful in the Preis von Europa and before that finished second in Group 1 German Oaks (2213m) and Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden (2414m).
The last foreign horse to win the Japan Cup was Alkaased in 2005, while Falbrave (2002), Pilsudski (1997), Singspiel (1996), Lando (1995), Golden Pheasant (1991), Better Loosen Up (1990), Horlicks (1989), Le Glorieux (1987), Jupiter Island (1986), Stanerra (1983), Half Iced (1982) and Mairzy Doates (1981) have previously had success in the race.
