1. Japan Cup Latest News
2. Japan Cup 2025 Entries Horse
3. Japan Cup 2025 Notable Runners
4. Japan Cup race overview
5. Racecourse Feature
6. Japan Cup Past Winners

Japan Cup Latest News

Japan Cup 2025 Entries Horse

2025 TENNO SHO (Autumn) (G1) winner Masquerade Ball, 2025 JAPANESE DERBY (G1) winner Croix du Nord, and 2024 JAPANESE DERBY (G1) winner Danon Decile etc are scheduled to run.

＊Please check the entries, Field, result, and other data against JRA official data.

Japan Cup 2025 Notable Runners

Masquerade Ball

Masquerade Ball has developed into one of the leading colts in the middle-distance division. He broke his maiden in August 2024 and quickly rose through the ranks, capturing the Listed Ivy Stakes later that autumn. After gaining valuable experience in the G1 Hopeful Stakes, he began his three-year-old season in 2025 with victory in the G3 Kyodo News Hai, marking his first graded title.

He went on to finish third in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and second in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), establishing himself as one of the most consistent and talented colts of his generation. In his latest start, he took on older horses and claimed a brilliant victory in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), further solidifying his status as a top-class middle-distance performer.

Croix du Nord

Croix du Nord has emerged as one of the most talented colts of his generation. He broke his maiden in June 2024 and quickly rose to prominence with an emphatic victory in the G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes. He capped his juvenile campaign unbeaten by winning the G1 Hopeful Stakes in December.

As a three-year-old in 2025, he finished second in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, and then captured the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), confirming his status at the top of his generation. Although he struggled in his latest start, the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, his current condition will be key to how he rebounds. Depending on his recovery, connections may choose to skip the G1 Japan Cup and instead target the year-end Arima Kinen.

Danon Decile

Danon Decile has established himself as one of the most accomplished horses in the middle-distance division. After breaking his maiden in his second start as a two-year-old, he captured his first graded title in the G3 Keisei Hai early in 2024. He went on to achieve classic glory by winning the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), a defining victory of his generation.

In 2025, he continued his rise with a win in the G2 American Jockey Club Cup, and later that year triumphed on the international stage in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. He also contested the G1 International Stakes in the UK, finishing fifth against a world-class field, further demonstrating his consistency at the top level.

Japan Cup race overview

Japan Cup is organized by the Japan Racing Association and an international Grade 1 race with horses over three-year-olds. Japan Cup is the first international graded stakes which was created in 1981.

There have been several notable horses from all over the world including US Horse of the Year Award winner John Henry, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners Tony Bin, Montjeu, Danedream, and Solemia. First Japanese horse to win the Japan Cup was Katsuragi Ace in the 1984.

JRA and Longines agreed to the partnership contract of the Japan Cup in the 2014. Almond Eye set the world record time for 2400m which is 2:20.6 in 2018.

Racecourse Feature

Tokyo 2400m turf course is the most iconic track in Japanese horse racing. G1 Japanese Derby is also run on this course. The barrier is located at the mid-point of the homestretch which is about 350m to the first corner. The length of the homestretch is 525.9m and it required the versatility to be able to run in a quick pace or in a slow pace.

Japan Cup Past Winners

Japan Cup Feature

Latest information on the Japan Cup (G1).