Excitement is building for one of the biggest horse racing events to close out November. The Japan Cup (G1, 2400m) takes place at Tokyo Racecourse in the early hours of Sunday for UK fans.
The JRA announced the draw for the 18 runners, which includes eight Grade 1 winners. Although only one horse competes from overseas, it's an eye-catching entry - the European Horse of the Year Calandagan.
Masquerade Ball, who claimed his first G1 victory in the Autumn Emperor's Cup, has drawn stall 15 while this year's Derby winner Croix du Nord is in stall 2.
Calandagan has drawn stall 8 and Tastiera - winner of the 2023 Derby - is in 18, while 2024 Derby victor Danon Decile is 14. You can see the complete list below.
Japan Cup 2025 Overview
- Race Name (Grade): The 45th Japan Cup (G1)
- Date: Sunday, 30th November 2025
- Start Time: 15:40 (06:40 UK time)
- Venue: Tokyo Racecourse (Fuchu City, Tokyo)
- Distance: Turf 2400m
- Conditions: 3 years+
EXPLAINED: Win vs Each-Way Betting | What is a NAP? | Cheltenham Odds
Japan Cup Runners
| Horse No. | Horse Name | Sex | Age | Weight | Jockey | Stable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Palace | Gelding | 6 | 58.0 | Cristian Demuro | Haruki Sugiyama |
| 2 | Croix du Nord | Colt | 3 | 56.0 | Yuichi Kitamura | Takashi Saito |
| 3 | Cosmo Kuranda | Gelding | 4 | 58.0 | Yuji Tannai | Shizuya Kato |
| 4 | Deep Monster | Gelding | 7 | 58.0 | Kohei Matsuyama | Yasutoshi Ikee |
| 5 | Sunrise Earth | Gelding | 4 | 58.0 | Kenichi Ikezoe | Koichi Ishizaka |
| 6 | Ho O Biscuits | Colt | 5 | 58.0 | Yasunari Iwata | Takeshi Okumura |
| 7 | Danon Beluga | Colt | 6 | 58.0 | Daisuke Sasaki | Noriyuki Hori |
| 8 | Calandagan | Gelding | 4 | 58.0 | Mickael Barzalona | F-H Graffard |
| 9 | Seiun Hades | Colt | 6 | 58.0 | Akihide Tsumura | Shinsuke Hashiguchi |
| 10 | Struve | Gelding | 6 | 58.0 | Akira Sugawara | Noriyuki Hori |
| 11 | Admire Terra | Colt | 4 | 58.0 | Yuga Kawada | Yasuo Tomomichi |
| 12 | Yoho Lake | Gelding | 7 | 58.0 | Mirai Iwata | Yasuo Tomomichi |
| 13 | Brede Weg | Mare | 5 | 56.0 | Tom Marquand | Keisuke Miyata |
| 14 | Danon Decile | Colt | 4 | 58.0 | Keita Tosaki | Shogo Yasuda |
| 15 | Masquerade Ball | Colt | 3 | 56.0 | Christophe-Patrice Lemaire | Takahisa Tezuka |
| 16 | Shin Emperor | Colt | 4 | 58.0 | Ryusei Sakai | Yoshito Yahagi |
| 17 | Durezza | Colt | 5 | 58.0 | Alexis Pouchin | Tomohito Ozeki |
| 18 | Tastiera | Colt | 5 | 58.0 | Damian Lane | Noriyuki Hori |
Japan Cup Prediction and Tips: The Verdict
This year’s Japan Cup brings together three generations of Derby winners together with Europe’s Horse of the Year, Calandagan, featuring in a truly elite lineup.
The race will again be run over 2400 meters at Tokyo Racecourse, a stage long known for favouring horses carrying the blood of Tony Bin, a stallion whose influence on this course has been felt for decades. Recent results underline that trend: Do Deuce (1st) and Durezza (2nd) filled the top two spots last year, while Liberty Island (2nd) and Stars on Earth (3rd) did the same the year before.
Five runners in this year’s field inherit Tony Bin’s blood: Ho O Biscuits, Danon Beluga, Admire Terra, Masquerade Ball and Durezza. The first two, however, have never won over 2400 meters and lack proven stamina at this trip, so they are excluded from consideration. The remaining three possess both the pedigree and the track record to match this demanding course.
However, our top pick to win the race is Danon Decile. His performance in the Dubai Sheema Classic — dominating Calandagan and Rebel’s Romance — was world-class, and notably achieved while still short of full maturity. His fifth-place finish last time out can be dismissed, given the unfamiliar turf conditions and the exceptionally heavy 61kg impost. His ability to peak off a layoff was proven in last year’s Derby, so the break is a positive rather than a concern.
Key challengers include Croix du Nord, this year’s Japanese Derby winner; Masquerade Ball, a Tokyo specialist with Tony Bin’s blood; Shin Emperor, runner-up in last year’s Japan Cup; Admire Terra, whose stamina is among the strongest in the field; and Durezza, last year’s third-place finisher and another Tony Bin-influenced performer suited to this course.
Meanwhile, Calandagan, despite being one of the most talented horses in the race, remains unproven on Japan’s much faster ground. Given the recent struggles of European runners in the Japan Cup, he is deliberately left out of the final selection.