This year's triple-crown filly Gentildonna displayed her persistent strength, nosing out a fierce and long duel with last year's triple-crown colt Orfevre, to become the first three-year-old filly to win the Japan Cup. Sired by the 2006 Japan Cup champion Deep Impact, she achieved a father-daughter Japan Cup title, and landed her fourth G1 win, her sixth grade-race victory overall. She also extended her winning streak to five since winning her first G1 title in the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, 1,600m) in April. This victory marks her trainer Sei Ishizaka's first Japan Cup titleand tenth grade-one win—he has claimed two Japan Cup Dirt titles with Alondite and Vermilion in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Jockey Yasunari Iwata landed his third Japan Cup title—tying with Lanfranco Dettori and Yutaka Take—and two in a row following his win last year with Buena Vista. His sixth G1 title in the race ties the record of most annual G1 wins with Katsumi Ando, Yutaka Take and Kenichi Ikezoe.

Last year's Horse of the Year, Orfevre,scored another close second following his runner-up finish in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last month. Coming in 2-1/2 lengths behind in third was Rulership, who was also third in his previous start in the Tenno Sho (Autmun). Owner, Sunday Racing Co.,Ltd., became the first owner to dominate the top three positions in the JRA G1 race.

The race broke off with Beat Black slipping out smoothly from stall one to set a moderate pace, while Tosen Jordan and Gentildonna saved ground from the outside draws to press the pace in second and third, respectively. Race favorite Orfevre, breaking out from the outermost stall,was settled towards the rear, fifth from last. Second favorite Rulership, though breaking poorly, steered to the inside and edged forward along the rail through the first two corners.

Beat Black, widened the gap to 10 lengths at one point along the backstretch, and was still five lengths in front of the rest of the field when entering the homestretch. Third choice Gentildonna, who hugged the rail along the last two corners, and Orfevre, who loomed to contention after making headway through the last two corners, drew abreast of each other 300 meters out and overtook the tiring leader after the 200-meter line for a fierce rally that saw the two triple-crown champions bumping into each other to the wire. WithGentildonna crossing the wire a nose in front, a long inquiry deliberating Gentildonna's interference with Orfevre in the homestretch, resulted in the filly's Japan Cup title. Jockey Yasunari Iwata, however, will be suspended from racing for two days during December 1st and 2nd.

Rulership, exerting a strong late charge from the outside, and Dark Shadow, turning wide after racing towards the rear, slipped out from the pack 100 meters out and also displayed a fierce duel for third place, with the Queen Elizabeth II Cup champion crossing the wire a head in front.

13th choice Red Cadeaux mounted by Gerald Mosse traveled wide off the pace, met interference after turning for home, good effort in the end but too late.

"It didn't really run fast enough for us but he's run a super race, and as you can see in the half last furlong there's another horse come across us. We should have finished sixth but we finished eighth. But he's run very well and we're proud of him. Now we'll get him ready for Hong Kong." - by Robin Trevor Jones, Assistant Trainer

"He was showing a good turn of foot in the stretch - if only we had a clear run." - by Gerald Mosse, Jockey

Colm O'Donoghue riding 15th pick Jakkalberry was slow out of the gate,trailed third from the rear, advanced through the last two corners but was even paced at the stretch.

"His preparations all went as planned - he probably had a hard race in the Melbourne Cup and we're happy with how he raced today. We have no excuses with the outcome but there were very good horses in front of us today. He will get a break now and then we head for Dubai in February." - by Lucie Botti, Assistant Trainer

"He was off slow, but after settling in mid-pack we were able to improve position. The field was just too strong." - by Colm O'Donohue, Jockey

12th favorite Mount Athos ridden by Ryan Moore, unable to find room after a slow break, was forced to steer to the inside where he traveled along the rail in eighth, and met traffic entering the stretch.

"He ran okay but the pace was all wrong. He didn't break well enough and when he couldn't get into a tactical position, he was at the mercy of the pace and it went slowly down right down the back side. And when they accelerated he found it hard to accelerate with them. We're happy with him but I think a longer distance is better for him." - by Mathew Cumani (representing trainer Luca Cumani)

"We were bumped at the start and couldn't get into a good position. He was keen to go because of the slow pace, and by the time he was ready to go, there was too much ground to make up in the end." - by Charles Henson, Assistant Trainer

Seventh pick Solemia, partnered with Olivier Peslier, with whom she claimed the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe title, raced behind the winner in fourth and made bid entering the final corner, but the filly was unable to find another gear that defeated Orfevre in the Arc, and faded.

"It was a very good race. I think she did very well in regard to that she is coming off of a hard race in the Arc and her first overseas travel. It might have been different if she had had experience racing abroad and had more time to adapt to the fast track here. She will retire now." - by Carlos Laffon-Parias, Trainer

"She broke well and sat in a good position. The pace wasn't a problem, but when the other horses caught up with her at the last corner, she lost momentum. The track may have been a bit too firm for her also." - by Olivier Peslier, Jockey

16th pick Sri Putra with Neil Callan broke well and settled in good position along the rail, around sixth from the front, but the bay had nothing to show in the homestretch.

"He was positioned well, but had nothing left. He's probably more tired than we thought after a long season." - by Roger Varian, Trainer

"He broke well, and traveled well but couldn't stay in contention at the end. The horse was in good form and he raced well, but the others were just too fast for him." - by Neil Callan, Jockey

Other Horses:

5th: (4) Fenomeno - hugged rail in fifth, steered out to attack, tenacious drive, narrowly held off 6th
6th: (16) Tosen Jordan - broke well, traveled in second, surrendered second 2f's out to winner, held off others.
7th: (1) Beat Black - set the pace alone, widened the gap, gave way 2f out
9th: (8) Eishin Flash - reserved in mid-division, good position for final drive, ran out of steam last 200m
10th: (3) Jaguar Mail - trailed second from rear, found opening on rail for last run, lacked the needed kick
14th: (9) Oken Bruce Lee - camped in seventh, met traffic at top of stretch, never reached contention
15th: (7) Meisho Kampaku - trailed last, never a factor
16th: (12) Rose Kingdom - lost ground in mid-division, checked going into straight