Trip To Paris finished down the field as Shonan Pandora claimed the honours in a thrilling finish to the Japan Cup at Tokyo racecourse.

The Ed Dunlop-trained Trip To Paris was ridden by Tommy Berry as he dropped back to 12 furlongs for the Grade One heat after finishing fourth in the Melbourne Cup last time out.

Drawn in stall two, Berry stuck to the rail through the early stages as Curren Mirotic set the early gallop, opening up a clear lead which only really began to diminish turning into the straight.

Berry had worked his way off the rail by this time, swinging wide on the turn for home before launching his challenge down the middle of the track.

However, the four-year-old did not quite have the turn of foot to go with the principles as favourite Lovely Day hit the front a furlong and a half out before Ryan Moore began to stoke up his mount Last Impact, who is trained by Hiroyoshi Matsuda, on the inside.

Moore hit the front inside the distance but Kenichi Ikezoe swooped in the final strides aboard the Tomokazu Takano-trained Shonan Pandora to just edge the win in a photo.

Lovely Day stuck on for third with Jungle Cruise fourth and Trip To Paris eventually finishing 14th.

French-trained runner Erupt featured in the early exchanges but faded into sixth while German runners Ito and Nightflower failed to make their presence felt.