The Arc winner Danedream goes in in search of eastern riches in Japan’s premier middle distance contest. She is accompanied on her travels by Shareta who has 5 L to find on that Paris run and another French filly in the shape of Sarah Lynx from the John Hammond stable. They form the raiding party in search of a share of the £2 million spoils.

The home defence will rely on Buena Vista, certainly the crowd favourite and Rose Kingdom also owned by the same connections, Sunday Racing Co Ltd. Throw in Victoire Pisa, the Dubai World Cup winner and Tosen Jordan, the surprise winner of the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and you’ve got a hell of a cracking contest.

The German filly blitzed the field in the Arc in what was a visually stunning performance backed up by a record time. Shereta hung on for second with Snow Fairy filling third and St Nicholas Abbey back in fifth. Snow Fairy subsequently went east to win the Queen Elizabeth 11 Commemorative Cup two weeks ago while St Nick went west to take the Breeders Cup Turf. Hot form or what!

Last years Japan Cup saw the disqualification of Buena Vista for slight interference with the second in the home straight. The stewards gave the race to Rose Kingdom reversing first and second with Victoire Pisa in third. On merit Buena Vista was the winner though she hasn’t won since in five runs while Rose Kingdom has only managed one win at Group 2 level in her six runs since.

We haven’t seen Victoire Pisa since Dubai so he comes here fresh. Previously he nosed out Buena Vista in the Arima Kinen in late December before a prep Grade 2 win in February put him spot on for World Cup night in the desert.

There are others to consider Sarah Lynx took the Canadian International at Woodbine. Mission Approved transfers from the States for his first Japan start. His last three runs were behind Cape Blanco. Oken Bruce Lee showed a return to the form that saw him come second in the race in 2009 with a runners up prize last time out.

In all it’s hard to argue with the Arc winner. She outgunned them all easily in the October sunshine. Her form going into Paris was excellent also winning by 5 and 6 L.

If you wanted to take her on then and were looking for a bit of value then Oken Bruce Lee whose gransire was the 1988 Arc winner Tony Bin might just be the one for the Kung Foo kick.