Ryan Moore attempts to put the gloss on a superb year when he guides Gentildonna in her bid for a third consecutive victory in the Japan Cup.
The Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup winning jockey was at the helm 12 months ago when the Sei Ishizaka-trained mare claimed the Grade One over a mile and a half (2400m) by a nose.
The partnership will renew acquaintances at the Tokyo circuit on Sunday, with Ishizaka in high spirits in what could be Gentildonna’s swan song.
“Ryan Moore rode her for fast work on November 19 and she moved as she always does,” Ishizaka said.
“Moore said he thought she felt good and better than last year.
“Moore has ridden the world over and has the results to show for it, but he’s a man of few words. No doubt because he’s concentrating on the racing.
“He has a very good grasp of Gentildonna.
“This will either be her last race or she’ll have one more, but, in either case, the plan is to retire her at the end of this year.
Irish interests are spiked by the presence of Trading Leather, trained in County Carlow by Jim Bolger.
The Godolphin-owned four-year-old won the 2013 Irish Derby and has continually held her own in good company.
Regular jockey Kevin Manning believes the Japan Cup should ideally suit the son of Teofilo.
“He’s a very straightforward horse and he gets the trip well,” he said.
“He’s a pretty straightforward horse, as far as I’m concerned.
“He didn’t get his ideal ground probably in any run that he’s had this year.
“He’s really a good quick-ground horse and he just didn’t really have the conditions that suit him all season.”
German hope Ivanhowe claimed the scalp of Sea The Moon at Baden-Baden in September but struggled in the Prix Arc de l’Arc de Triomphe a month later.