Richest prizes in world to overseas horses on offer
Japan: An overseas horse winning this year's Japan Cup could theoretically win the richest-ever first-place prize in racing history after a lucrative bonus scheme was extended in a bid to attract more foreign visitors.
From 2009 onwards, horses who finish first - or in some cases second - in certain designated races such as the Derby, Irish Derby, King George and Arc will be eligible for one of a range of bonuses up to almost £900,000 if they go on to make the first three in any of the four Japan Autumn International races.
As well as the Japan Cup and the Japan Cup Dirt, the four-race Japan Racing International series also features the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup and the Mile Championship.
Collectively, their purses add up to £8.3m, even without the revamped bonus system.
But any visiting horse winning the Japan Cup after landing one of the handful of ‘qualifying' races would net a total of about £2.6m, which would represent the biggest first prize in world racing.
Well Armed's connections won £2.5m for their success in the world's richest race, the $6m Dubai World Cup.
Without the bonus, first place in the Japan Cup is worth ¥250m (about £1.65m).
Traditionally an insular racing nation, Japan has become increasingly outward looking in recent seasons with a host of its top Grade 1 races now open to international visitors.
Yet despite massive prize-money, races like the Japan Cup have suffered from a lack of foreign interest.
A complex scale of sliding bonuses will be attached to all four Autumn International races which means that even the King George runner-up can earn an extra £86,000 for finishing only third in Japan Cup.
JAPAN AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL RACES (purse without bonus)
Nov 15: Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (Kyoto) 1m3f turf $2m
Nov 22: Mile Championship (Kyoto) 1m turf $2.2m
Nov 29: Japan Cup (Tokyo) 1m4f turf $5.6m
Dec 6: Japan Cup Dirt (Hanshin) 1m1f dirt $2.9m
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