Magnificent Arc winner Montjeu is increasingly likely to run in the Japan Cup and his presence in Tokyo could sabotage real hopes of the $10 million Hong Kong Cup being the crucial decider in the first World Series Racing Championship. Montjeu, who has been accorded a Timeform rating on a par with the great Dancing Brave, came out of the Longchamp thriller in fine shape according to trainer John Hammond. Significantly, he has already had his required inoculations as a final decision is awaited. Montjeu galloped to Arc glory through the mud under global star Mick Kinane, who was also yesterday prepared for an earlier than expected trip to Tokyo. 'It is very tempting for John [Hammond] and the owner, Michael Tabor, to go to Tokyo because the horse hasn't turned a hair from the Arc run. He is in grand shape,' said Kinane. 'Although he won the Arc on bad ground he acts very well on good ground. But he would not like it firm, that would not be a help at all. 'There was no real expectation of running anywhere after the Arc but they realise they have a top class racehorse in grand form who would have the beating of anything likely to run in Tokyo on his form,' added Kinane, who is due in Tokyo early in December and then in Hong Kong for the Jockeys' Invitation Series and the International Races. The one real concern for the Montjeu camp is the ground. Recent runnings of the Japan Cup have been on firm ground with no discernible 'give' in it and that would not suit the horse. The horse could travel to Tokyo, however, and a final decision to run would be made when the state of the going was known. The possibility that Cox Plate winner Sunline will run in Tokyo is unlikely to cause much concern to the Montjeu camp and the European runners - most notably Fruits Of Love - would not scare them away. But if Montjeu runs in Tokyo and, as would be expected, wins the Group One race then it leaves the December 12 Hong Kong Cup likely to be something of an anti-climax. Fruits Of Love and Thornfield - both down for Hong Kong - could beat Daylami if there was success in either Tokyo or Gulfstream Park at the Breeders' Cup Turf. And depending on who wins the Breeders' Cup Turf - temporary government ban permitting - he could be at Sha Tin after having had a crack at the Japan Cup. But if Montjeu does go to Tokyo and wins the Japan Cup, he will have made the penultimate leg of the World Series, with its 12 points for winning, virtually a non-event in relation to the Series overall. It would also mean there would be no chance of seeing Daylami at Sha Tin as a Montjeu victory would see him crowned the inaugural world champion racehorse, leaving those in the Hong Kong Cup scrapping for the minor places in the World Series table.
