Stable News
25.11.06 - Ouija Board tackles Japanese stars
OUIJA BOARD will take on Japanese equine superstars Deep Impact and Heart’s Cry on their own soil tomorrow in an eagerly-anticipated renewal of the Japan Cup.
With three Group 1 victories in 2006 - and seven in her overall career - Ouija Board has shown time and again that she is an amazing race mare.
Ouija Board, Frankie Dettori up
But if she can claim the scalps of the Japanese big guns over 2,400 metres in the Tokyo Grade 1, it is likely to be deemed the best performance of her life.
She did contest the race 12 months ago, finishing fifth after probably being too close to a fierce pace.
That aside, she goes into this Sunday’s race in better form than in 2005. After summer triumphs this season in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and the Nassau Stakes, the five-year-old was victorious at the start of November in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs.
That was her second Breeders’ Cup crown and underlined just how brilliant she is. Frankie Dettori gave a masterclass on board her on that occasion and he is due to ride the daughter of Cape Cross in her latest engagement.
Since arriving in the Far East her preparations have gone well and trainer Ed Dunlop has been pleased with her.
Frankie rode her in a bit of track work on Thursday and was also happy with the mare’s condition ahead of the contest, which is scheduled for 6.20am (British time).
Now, all that remains is to see if she can produce her brilliant best once more. If she can, then her 10 rivals in the hugely lucrative showdown will have plenty on their plate.
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