Jupiter Island, last in but first home in Japan Cup

Press, 24 November 1986, Page 40

Jupiter Island, last in but first home in Japan Cup

From

JEFF SCOTT

in Tokyo Jupiter Island, the last horse invited into the field, responded to a brilliant ride from Pat Eddery when winning the sixth Japan Cup in Tokyo yesterday. The win also elevated the plain-looking bay to stardom on the eve of his retirement to stud. This was his race finale, being syndicated for £400,000 to stand at stud in the United Kingdom. There could be some of the stock of Jupiter Island racing in New Zealand in years to come. An Ameri-can-based owner, an Englishman, who has raced Banderol and Golden Impala in New Zealand, has more than one share in the ownership of Jupiter Island.

Jupiter Island has overcome several problems during his career. First, as a two-year-old, he split a pastern, and in April this year he sustained a deep-seated stone bruise, which meant he had to spend three months “boxed-up.” This was only his second race in a new campaign, having raced two weeks before coming to Japan. Jupiter Island settled well back in the running and was second last with a lap to run. His rider, Pat Eddery, plotted a passage one out from the fence from the 800 m and gained a perfect run through across the top to be in the second line on the outer turning for home.

The other United Kingdom runner, Allez Milord, a three-year-old, which had trailed the tearaway pacemaker, Kushiro King, had levelled up to the leader at the 500 m with Jupiter Island making his claim at about the 300 m. The two set down to fight out the finish, with Jupiter Island putting his head in front in the last few strides.

Jupiter Island shaved 0.3 s off the 2400 m Tokyo track record by returning 2min 25s for the distance, with the leaders running their last 800 m in 47.75, with the final 600 m in 35.65.

Greville Starkey the rider of the runner-up Allez Milord, said, “He had every chance but was beaten on the day by a better horse.” Miho Shinzan, which settled three back on the inner, was a solid third, a length and a quarter from the first two, with three quarters of a length to Rugby Ball, which was mid-field to the home turn and fought on well. The New Zealand galloper, Waverley Star, which settled in the rear group, followed the winner across the top and looked a distinct threat 300 m out, but only battled in the closing stages to run fifth.

Waverley Star’s rider.

Lance O’Sullivan, said the horse was never travelling well.

"He was never balanced and didn’t change legs the way I would have liked,” said O’Sullivan. “He coughed four or five times after the race as if he had sand or something in his throat. After they got to the top of the hill in the straight I thought he would run one, two or three. He was winding up well but then began to lug. He just didn’t run on the way he could,” he said.

The favoured French mare, Triptych, which just came out of quarantine 24 hours before the race, was never a threat. She was mid-field until the home turn but failed to run out the journey, finishing a well beaten 11th. Jupiter Island, which is named after an island in Canada, is raced by the Marquess of Tavistock, the eldest son of the Duke of Bedford. He currently employs three English trainers and, in partnership with his wife, has had a good deal of success in racing.

They keep 10 broodmares, including Mrs Moss, the dam of Jupiter Island, at their Bloomsbury Stud in Woburn, England, and at the Mill Ridge Farm, Kentucky.

The horse’s trainer, Clive Brittain, aged 52, was first apprenticed to

Sir Noel Murless in 1949, and was later promoted to stable foreman, before he started training in 1972.

Brittain has trained the winners of many big races, including the St Leger, the One Thousand Guineas, the St James Palace Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup. His best season was in 1981 when he recorded 54 wins. His best horses include Julio Mariner, Pebbles and Jupiter Island. The jockey, Pat Eddery, has won most of the major races in Europe, including the Derby, the Two Thousand Guineas, the Oaks, the Prix de I’Arc Triomphe, and the Irish Sweeps Derby. In this season, his best ever, he has ridden Dancing Brave to win the Prix de I’Arc Triomphe and the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

Jupiter Island recorded his 14th win from 41 starts. He had three wins in 12 starts as a two and three-year-old, with his first victory in a group race in the St Simon Stakes.

Last season he won the Hardwick Stakes at Ascot (a Group II race) and the Prix de Conseii de Paris (Group II) in France, three lengths ahead of Baby Turk. He also finished third in the Washington D.C. International before he sustained an

abcessed hoof at Santa Anita after finishing third in the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap.