Sometimes known as the autumn mile championship as opposed to the Yasuda Kinen in June, this years edition has two internationals and a hot field of locals.
The joker in the pack is the weather and it is not looking good for Sunday with rain - quite a lot of it -
anticipated.From the local perspective, that puts the emphasis on the Fuji Stakes as a lead in as this was run on
soft ground. Eishin Apollon won that one and he ticks a lot of boxes here. He's by Giant's Causewayout of a Sadler's Wells mare (and French runner immortal verse is also out of a Sadler's Wells mare).
He has drawn barrier 5 which is ideal.The Swan Stakes is the other key prep and this year's edition went to Ridell, by Agnes Tachyon, in a
fast time. Last year's winner A Shin Forward (who won in record time) also ran in the Swan and came6th, and GP Boss was 8th. Ridell has drawn gate 17 which could be a problem.
Real Impact, a son of Deep Impact, won the Yasuda Kinen in June and is going for a rare Mile double -
he has gate 8.The French runners trained by father Rob Collet (Immortal Verse) and son Rodolphe Collet (Sahpresa)
ran 1st and 3rd in the jacques Le Mourois at Deaville and both are coming off a good season in Europe.Immortal Verse may have the edge, drawn in 7 with Christophe Soumillon riding and Christophe
Lemaire on Sahpresa.One to keep an eye on is Kyowa Jeane, who ran second to Aventura in the Shuka Sho . As a 3yo filly
she has no weight and is very promising.
