Calandagan's assault on the Japan Cup is still a week away, but Docklands provides a preview of foreign assault on Japanese racing in the Mile Championship (G1) Nov. 23 at Kyoto Racecourse.
Granted, Docklands' results have fallen a fair bit short of Calandagan's so far this season. Further granted, foreign runners always have a tough row to hoe in Japan. And still further stipulated, while Docklands is an experienced traveler, his road record leaves a bit to be desired.
Still, the signs are not all negative.
Docklands, an Aussie-owned 5-year-old Massaat horse, scored his sole 2025 win to date in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, edging Rosallion by a nose as a moderate long shot. From there, he went on to be a well-beaten fifth in the Sussex Stakes (G1), won by 150-1 shot Qirat, then reported a close-up fourth in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) in August in Deauville.
He was last seen finishing fourth, again very much in the mix, in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) on Champions Day last month at Ascot.
In two starts in Australia and one in Hong Kong a year ago, he finished fifth, sixth and 12th.
Jockey Michael Vokins took the reins for a gallop over the Tokyo course the morning of Nov. 20 and reported Docklands "felt as good as he's ever felt, similar to what we felt before Ascot. So I couldn't be happier with him going into the race."
Given the quality of his rivals and his competitive spirit, Docklands' record could be seen as putting him on the verge of a breakthrough. But he will need a step forward as the best of the locals contesting the Mile Championship are at least as tough as those he's been facing all year.
Last year's Mile Championship winner, Soul Rush, has plenty of claims for a repeat. Not the least is an upset victory by a nose in April in the Dubai Turf (G1T) over Romantic Warrior, who was fresh from his wrenching loss to Forever Young in the Saudi Cup (G1). His 2025 record also includes a second behind the talented Voyage Bubble in the 2024 Hong Kong Mile (G1).
Soul Rush finished third in both the Yasuda Kinen (G1) and the Fuji Stakes (G2), both at Tokyo Racecourse, since returning from Dubai, but trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said the uphill climb of the Tokyo stretch works against him, and Kyoto should be more friendly.
"When the stretch is flat, such as in Dubai or Hong Kong, he does well," Ikee said. "At Kyoto, with the downward slope out of the backstretch, he's going to pick up speed. Since, at times, he has trouble getting his engine revved and can get left behind at the crucial moment, the Kyoto course may help him."
Jantar Mantar, a 4-year-old Palace Malice gelding, won last season's NHK Mile Cup (G1) and makes his third start of 2025, following a victory in the Yasuda Kinen and a second in the Fuji Stakes. He ran by far his worst race in that same 2024 Hong Kong Mile (G1), finishing 13th, one spot back of Docklands.
His trainer, Tomokazu Takano, said Jantar Mantar came out of the Fuji Stakes in top shape and now is chasing a bit of history.
"The horse knows the course, the jockey (Yuga Kawada) knows the course. I think it'll be fine," Takano said. "I hear that no horse has won all the (Japanese) Grade 1 mile events from 2 years old and that would be great if he could accomplish that. I'd love to see him achieve that. I think he will."
Ascoli Piceno, a 4-year-old Diwa Major filly, is no stranger to taking on males, with a win in the 2013 Hanshin Juvenile (G1) and a second behind Jantar Mantar in the NHK Mile Cup. She won the Victoria Mile (G1) two starts back with a come-from-behind effort, but makes her first domestic start since finishing sixth in the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville in August.
"I'd rather she didn't race from so far back as she did in the Victoria Mile," said trainer Yoichi Kuriowa. "She won. But my heart was in my mouth the whole time."
Among the others:
Elton Barows finished second in the 2024 Mile Championship but has not impressed in two starts this year. Gaia Force enters off a second in the Yasuda Kinen and a win in the Fuji Stakes. Lebensstil has exhibited signs of life since cutting back from marathon distances and won the Mainichi Okan (G1) at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) in his last start.
