Kitasan Black cruised to win the Japan Cup, the Yutaka Take-ridden first choice leading from start to finish to capture the nation's richest race on Sunday.
The 4-year-old Kitasan Black went wire-to-wire in 2 minutes, 25.8 seconds over 2,400 meters on firm going at Tokyo Racecourse, crossing the post 2½ lengths ahead of fifth-pick Sounds of Earth. Finishing third a further neck behind was Cheval Grand, the sixth favorite.
It was Kitasan Black's third Grade 1 victory after last year's Kikka-sho, the Japanese St. Leger, and this spring's Tenno-sho. The Black Tide son, owned by famous enka singer Saburo Kitajima, cashed in a winner's check of ¥300 million.