One of the world’s best races takes place at Tokyo on Sunday.
First run in 1981 in an attempt to lure international talent to take on Japan's best, the Japan Cup (2400m) has developed into one of the best mile and a half races in the world.
With an honour roll boasting the likes of Equinox, Almond Eye, Kitasan Black and Deep Impact to name a few, what was once an invitation to the world has become very difficult to win.
After winning 14 of the first 25 editions, no internationally trained horse has won the Japan Cup since 2005, and a few talented types have tried.
Last year saw Aidan O'Brien's six-time Group 1 winner Auguste Rodin battle into eighth behind Do Deuce while Group 1 King George Stakes winner Goliath fared a touch better in sixth.
In 2011, star mare Danedream came off a trio of Group 1 wins including a five-length romp in a very strong Group 1 Prix de l'arc de Triomphe. She started a narrow favourite in the Japan Cup but could only manage sixth in what was a fairly weak renewal of the Japan Cup by its lofty standards.
It just shows how difficult it is to travel to different jurisdictions, but especially Japan, where the races are run brutally throughout on what is often very fast ground.
At the back end of a tough European season, it's no wonder the locals have been dominating in recent years.
That said, this year sees arguably the best ever international horse to contest the Japan Cup, at least in recent years, in the form of Calandagan for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.
The four-year-old gelding has confirmed his position as the best middle distance horse in Europe with three consecutive Group 1 wins, all achieved in very fast time on fast ground, which is key.
He won the King George (2414m) at Ascot two starts ago over subsequent Group 1 winners Kalpana and Rebel's Romance before dropping back to 2011m in the Champion Stakes, putting big margins on some top Group 1 winners.
A fast 2400m is Calandagan's best scenario and that is what he'll get at Tokyo, but he still needs to run something like his best to beat the locals, of which there are no absolute superstars, like an Equinox or an Almond Eye in recent years.
That said, the local defence runs deep. Masquerade Ball is likely to start favourite having won the Group 1 Tenno Sho (2000m) last start as favourite.
He'd been beaten by Croix Du Nord in the Japanese Derby (Tokyo Yushun) last season and by Museum Mile in the 2000 Guineas (Satsuki Sho) the start prior but has clearly come back better, turning the tables on Museum Mile last start.
He's lightly raced and looks very hard to beat, while outside of Calandagan, Croix Du Nord is the runner with the most questions surrounding him.
He was a very good winner of the Derby before heading to France, beating subsequent Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz before struggling in the Arc at Longchamp itself, as so many of his compatriots have before.
Only the great Deep Impact has come back from the Arc to win the Japan Cup that year, while the likes of Orferve and Harp Star were both beaten as leading chances.
At his best, Croix Du Nord could be the better horse than Masquerade Ball, but he may not be at his best.
That said, we want to find the winner, not the 'safe play', and Calandagan profiles better than any that have come before him to create history in the Japan Cup.
