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Japan Cup 2000 Winner

On Sunday 2000, at Tokyo Racecourse seven foreigners took on the nine locals in the $4.284 million Japan Cup, attempting to end the locals' three-race winning streak. The foreign contingent included Breeders' Cup Turf second place finisher John's Call, Godolphin representative Fantastic Light, and the filly Ela Athena. Sent off as the 1-2 favorite was T M Opera O, who was going into the Cup with a perfect 6 for 6 record this year and was attempting to set the world record for earnings with a win in this Group 1 event.

After the gate opened, 54-1 longshot Stay Gold went to the front to set a steady pace, with American hopeful John's Call stalking in behind him, at odds of 18-1. T M Opera O As the field hit the top of the stretch, Stay Gold and John's Call continued to hold the lead with Meisho Doto racing in behind them while the closers began to make their moves to the front, led by eventual winner T M Opera O. With a furlong to go, Stay Gold and John's Call weakened and faded to 8th and 9th respectively and Meisho Doto took the lead. T M Opera O, who had been in 7th most of the way around, got even with Meisho Doto with a furlong and a half to go and led for the final 1/16 for the win by a neck.

Fantastic Light under jockey Frankie Dettori, who had been as far back as 11th, rallied in the final quarter mile to finish third another nose back. T M Opera O completed the 2400 meter (about 1 1/2 miles) turf feature in 2:26.10 over a course rated firm. By taking the winner's share of $2.281 million he increased his career earnings to just over $11 million and bypassed Cigar for the all-time lead and world record. Jockey Frankie Dettori said of Fantastic Light, "The pace was too slow for him. He did his best, but the first two were quicker." New York based jockey Jean-Luc Samyn aboard John's Call, said "It was slow, so I was able to settle him but he flattened out a furlong from the wire."

Winning jockey Ryuji Wada called it an "overwhelming victory". On Saturday's card at Tokyo was the inaugural running of the Group 1 Japan Cup Dirt, with a purse of $2.3 million. Two American-based horses, Lord Sterling and Euchre, shipped in to take on thirteen locals but finished 3rd and 8th respectively. The winner was Wing Arrow, who completed the 1 5/16 mile race in track record time of 2:07.20 over a fast track.

2000 Japan Cup final order of finish:
1. T M Opera O (R Wada) 1-2
2. Meisho Doto (Y Yasuda) 14-1
3. Fantastic Light (L Dettori) 17-2
also ran:
4. Ela Athena
5. Daiwa Texas
6. Matikane Kinnohoshi
7. Reve d'Oscar
8. Stay Gold
9. John's Call
10. Golden Snake
11. Timboroa
12. Fruits of Love
13. Agnes Flight
14. Air Shakur
15. Eagle Cafe
16. Silk Prima Donna

Barrier
 Horse Jockey
1
 Tap Dance City JPN Tetsuzo Sato
2
 Denon USA Corey Nakatani
3
 Sakura President JPN Yutaka Take
4
 Fields Of Omagh AUS Steven King
5
 Symboli Kris S JPN Olivier Peslier
6
 Ana Marie FR Christophe Lemaire
7
 Tsurumaru Boy JPN Norihiro Yokoyama
8
 Neo Universe JPN Mirco Demuro
9
 Ange Gabriel FR Thierry Jarnet
10
 That's The Plenty JPN Katsumi Ando
11
 Active Bio JPN Koshiro Take
12
 Derby Regno JPN Hideaki Miyuki
13
 Johar USA Alex Solis
14
 Islington GB Kieren Fallon
15
 Slew Valley USA Jorge Chavez
16
 Sarafan USA Victor Espinoza
17
 Tigertail FR Thierry Gillet
18
 Sunrise Pegasus JPN Yoshitomi Shibata