Alkaased Powers To Record Japan Cup Triumph Frankie Dettori and Alkaased powered to a record-breaking triumph in a dramatic 25th renewal of the Japan Cup in Tokyo. The combination prevailed by a nose from local hope Heart´s Cry in one of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the #1,250,000-plus contest at Fuchu racecourse. The faith owner Mike Charlton and trainer Luca Cumani had placed in Alkaased was vindicated as the five-year-old entire held on to provide Dettori with his third win in the race after Singspiel (1996) and Falbrav (2002). And the horse´s time of two minutes 22.1 seconds broke the previous record for the mile and a half set by Australian-trained Horlicks. Last year´s winner Zenno Rob Roy ran creditably and was a length and three-quarters back in third and another Japanese runner, Lincoln, was a close fourth. Ouija Board, who was brushed by Heart´s Cry when that rival made his challenge, was beaten little more than two lengths in fifth place. Dettori revealed that ever since his arrival in Japan he had harboured a strong fancy for Alkaased, who paid 9.6-1. He said: 'I couldn´t believe how well he was in himself but I didn´t want to say anything until after he´d gone and done his stuff. 'My one concern is that he is a slow starter, but I was able to get a nice lead round behind Bago and was more or less where I´d aimed to be at the top of the stretch. He can be lazy, but today he was really tough and dug deep. 'It was an absolutely great race, very exciting and nerve-wracking. Luca´s done a great job keeping the horse fresh all year and deserved the result.' Cumani will consult Monte Carlo-based Yorkshireman Charlton before deciding whether to run Alkaased in Hong Kong on December 11, but the signs are that the son of Kingmambo will be going, as could Ouija Board.(C) PA Sport
