Narita Top Road

By Barbara Bayer

With the Group 1 Japan Cup but four days away, Symboli Kris S and Narita Top Road, coming off a one-two finish in the Tenno Sho (JpnGr.1-2000m) at Nakayama last 27 October, are emerging as the top two picks of local turf pundits.

The 3yo Symboli Kris S took the hill course at Miho training center twice yesterday to the satisfaction of trainer Kazuo Fujisawa. "We worked him on the woodchip course on Sunday and things went to plan there as well. . . He's slimmed down from the Tenno Sho so there's no need to be too hard on him." Fujisawa added the 2200m Japan Cup trip would suit his horse.

Narita Top Road galloped up the hill at the Ritto training center yesterday at an easy pace of 17-18 seconds a furlong. Trainer of the 6yo Yoshio Oki said: "He's coming along well. The jockey got after him last week, so this week we're going to keep things a bit easier."

Oki also said Narita Top Road should welcome the reduced distance of this year's Japan Cup from 2400m to 2200m, owing to the refurbishment of Tokyo Racecourse. He is also

Symboli Kris S

hoping for fast turf on Sunday, the faster the better. A 60% chance of rain, however, is being predicted for race day, with a 40% chance of rain on Saturday.

Not being overlooked from the home team is the 3yo filly T.M. Ocean, winner of two Group 1 races last year. Her disappointing 13th when favorite in the Tenno Sho was attributed to a 44lb weight loss suffered during the long haul from her base in western Japan. This time the filly was moved early in the month to Miho, only a short trip from Nakayama. T.M. Ocean is bidding to become the first female contender to win the Japan Cup in 13 years.

Of the foreign-based horses at Nakayama this morning, French Oaks winner Bright Sky continued her hard schedule with jockey Thierry Thulliez breezing the 3yo filly on the turf course over 1400m. Trainer Elie Lellouche said he felt Bright Sky was adapting well on her first overseas excursion and was moving as smoothly as she does at home in Chantilly. He assured Japanese reporters, who were surprised at her hard work schedule, that it was her usual regime. Lellouche said: "I find the ground a bit hard though and think a bit of rain would be good." Thulliez, who took the reins for the first time today, however, did not feel the hard ground would work against her. "She felt very relaxed, very good. I felt that she was working very eagerly," he said.

T.M.Ocean

The 4yo English colt Storming Home repeated his work of yesterday with a once around over turf this morning under exercise rider Geoffrey Snook. "He surprised me at how good he feels," Snook said. He added that they planned to pick up the pace tomorrow with a fast breeze down the straight. Trainer Barry Hills and jockey Michael Hills are not expected to arrive until Friday.

Hong Kong's Indigenous breezed lightly over 800 meters on the dirt course today. Exercise rider So Wai-yin said he thought the horse's condition was improving. "His feed has arrived from the United States and he's been eating that. That may be part of it." So said plans for the horse would be decided after discussion with trainer Ivan Allan.