2016 Japan Cup - Kitasan Black leads all the way

Darryl Sherer - Monday November 28

Kitasan Black enjoyed an uncontested lead under Yutaka Take and made all the running to land Sunday's Group I Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo.

Kitasan Black led all the way to win the Japan Cup. Photo: JRA

Starting from barrier one, Kitasan Black was clear around the home turn and never looked like being caught, going on to defeat Sounds Of Earth by 2 1/2-lengths with Cheval Grand making up a lot of ground to finish a neck away in third.

German-trained Iquitos was beaten 3 1/2-lengths into seventh to finish best of the three European entries.

A four-year-old son of Black Tide, a brother to champion sire Deep Impact, Kitasan Black won last year's Kikuka Sho, Japan's equivalent of the St Leger, and the Tenno Sho (3200m) in May.

It is the fourth win in the race for Take following Special Week in 1999, Deep Impact in 2006 and Rose Kingdom in 2010.

Kitasan Black completed the 2400m in 2:25.80 on a track rated firm. His 80-year-old owner Saburo Kitajima, a famous enka singer in Japan, sang to the crowd from the podium during the trophy presentation.

You can watch the race below.

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