SNOW FAIRY, who was re-routed to the Emirates Airlines Champion Stakes here at Newmarket on Saturday week after plans were aborted to take our dual Oaks winner to France for the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp because of the testing ground, will then aim for a huge pot in the G1 Queen Elizabeth 11 Commemorative Cup at Kyoto on November 14.
Explaining why he prefers an audacious tilt on Japan rather than follow the Ouija Board route and head for the Breeders Cup, Ed said"The first prize for the Kyoto race, which is over a mile and three furlongs on turf, is £692,000, but the JRA have come up with a special bonus scheme which means that the win purse would be doubled for certain G1 winners should they finish in the first three, and, being the Epsom Oaks heroine, Snow Fairy qualifies, so we are looking at a pot of £1.384m if the filly should happen to win.
"œWe have not yet managed to win one in Japan, but Ouija Board was twice beaten only two lengths in the Japan Cup in Tokyo and Court Masterpiece was only beaten four lengths in the Mile Championship at Kyoto "" the prize money is excellent out there and, unlike the Breeders Cup, the authorities contribute towards the expenses for connections. So it is well worth giving it a go "" we would pick up more than £350,000 for third "" and the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf can wait until next year.
"œHowever, first Snow Fairy will take in the Champion down the road from us. I know it was a lovely sunny day in Paris on Sunday, but I am sure that we made the right decision to bypass the Opera as the ground was still very soft and the filly would not have enjoyed those conditions. She will have a couple more pieces of work before the Champion and, hopefully, we might get some drying weather before then, but we will then have four weeks before Japan so the timing between the two races is ok."