Special Week takes prize

Japanese star Special Week crowned a magnificent season in style by proving too good for a strong overseas challenge in the Japan Cup in front of 156,000 delirious fans in Tokyo yesterday.

However, the mile and a half race was to prove a bridge too far for the Arc de Triomphe hero Montjeu, with the favourite winding up only fourth under Michael Kinane.

Third last year, Special Week, having settled off the pace, burst through with just over a furlong to run.

Ridden by leading Japanese jockey Yutaka Take, the second favourite (24-10) comfortably contained Hong Kong star Indigenous, dismissed at 83 to 1, by a length and a half.

Indigenous, who raced in this country under the name of Qualtron at two and three for Kevin Prendergast, for whom he was successful on three occasions, held on to second by a nose and three-parts of a length from Godolphin's High-Rise and Montjeu.

Montjeu showed too little too late, as he failed to close the gap on the leaders despite a good effort in the final quarter mile.

Trainer John Hammond said: "He took a lot of time to get over the trip from France. What he lacked was match fitness."

Special Week, only the second horse to win the spring-autumn versions of the Emperor's Cup, again showed the strength in depth of Japanese racing.

"This has been one of my dreams come true," said Take of the Toshiaki Shirai-trained horse. "I am proud to be Japanese." Mark Johnston's Fruits Of Love, having got squeezed up by Montjeu, failed to pick up in ninth. "There are no real excuses," reported the Middleham trainer.

In a disappointing race for the Europeans, Borgia, the second French runner, and Germany's Tiger Hill, were also found wanting in eighth and 10th places.

Pat Smullen's burgeoning career has seen him awarded a two-month contract in Hong Kong where he will ride as A Club jockey.

The licensing committee of the Hong Kong Jockey Club have confirmed that the 22-year-old will ride in the Chinese territory in December and January.

Recommended for the job by Michael Osborne, Smullen said: "This is a very good opportunity for me and I intend to take it with both hands."

Smullen will fill a void vacated by Alan Munro, whose 16 meeting ban under the non-triers rule, rules him out of action until February 2nd.