This year, the Japan Cup will be held at Nakayama Racecourse because of the reconstruction of Tokyo Racecourse.

The race will be telecast live from Nakayama Racecourse to racegoers at Sha Tin and Happy Valley on Sunday, 24 November. The event has been scheduled as the fourth race on the day's programme at Sha Tin and will start at 2:25 p.m.

The 2,200-metre Japan Cup is a Group One invitation race open to horses aged three years and over worth approximately US$3.96 million in total prize money.

To help improve the quality of Japanese racing and foster international goodwill within the racing community, the Japan Racing Association introduced the Japan Cup in 1981. The Cup has since grown in international stature and has produced some of the most memorable races ever held in Japan.

Japanese contenders have won the last four Japan Cups with El Condor Pasa (1998), Special Week (1999), T.M. Opera O (2000) and Jungle Pocket (2001). Last year, with Olivier Peslier on board, Jungle Pocket won by a neck from the defending champion T.M. Opera O.

There are 16 runners in this year's line up with seven overseas challengers (one from North America, one from Hong Kong and five from Europe) taking on the home contingent.