2020 Flat Profile - Japan

Japan 4 y bc Galileo – Shastye    (Cod, Steve, Tony

LIFETIME RECORD	RUNS		2NDS	3RDS	WINNINGS	EARNINGS	OR	BEST TS	BEST RPR
Flat Turf	9	5	0	1	£1,105,980	£1,546,881	122	112	125
Stakes	7	4	0	1	£1,096,440	£1,537,341	122	112	125
	9	5	0	1	£1,105,980	£1,546,881

It took a bit longer than expected for Japan to show his true potential last season, having gone in to the winter as Coolmore’s leading 2 year old. He made his debut debut at the Curragh in September 201 8, finishing 7^th in a 1m maiden, beaten 6 ½ l behind stablemate Sydney Opera House. Like so many of the stables really rated horses, he improved considerably on his 2^nd outing, winning a 7f maiden at Listowel by ¾ l from Aristocratic Man, then followed up at Naas at the end of the month, taking the 1m group 2 Beresford stakes by a short head from Mount Everest. He reappeared last season in May, finishing a disappointing 4^th in the 1m 2f group 2 Dante Stakes at York, beaten 5 ½ l behind Telecaster, then was 3^rd in the Epsom Derby beaten ¾ l by stablemate Sir Anthony Van Dyck. He got off the mark at Royal Ascot in June, winning the 1m 4g group 2 King Edward V11 stakes by 4 ½ l from Bangkok, then got his group 1 in France, taking the Grand Prix De Paris over 1m 4f by ½ l from Slalom, and followed up at York in August in the 1m 2f Group 1 Juddmonte International stakes, beating Crystal Ocean by a head  and finished the season with 4^th in the Arc at Longchamp, beaten 4l behind Waldgeist. He will surely win more Group 1’s at middle distances this season.

Trainer A O’Brien