Marsh Side, Tin Cup Chalice arrive in Japan

Canadian International (Can-G1) hero MARSH SIDE (Gone West) and Indiana Derby

(G2) victor TIN CUP CHALICE (Crusader Sword) are among five international

shippers who arrived safely at Narita Airport in Japan on Thursday. Marsh Side

is eyeing the November 30 Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), while Tin Cup Chalice is aiming

for the December 7 Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1). Both were transported to the JRA

Horseracing School Quarantine Center in Shiroi City early Thursday afternoon.

"It was a smooth flight and the horse (Marsh Side) seems to have slept pretty

well," said Derek Oldham, assistant to trainer Neil Drysdale. "We could not get

water replacement, so he took two liters of water after arriving at Shiroi. The

prize money is high and draws worldwide attention. We will give it our best."

Japan's richest race, worth approximately $5,079,600, the 28th Japan Cup will

be run at about 1 1/2 miles at the left-handed Tokyo Racecourse.

The other three international shippers are from England -- multiple Group 2

winner PAPAL BULL (Montjeu [Ire]), seventh in last year's Japan Cup and last

seen finishing 12th to Zarkava in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1); classic

scorer SIXTIES ICON (GB) (Galileo [Ire]), a slightly troubled fifth in the

Breeders' Cup Marathon in his latest; and 2007 Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) near-misser

PURPLE MOON (Galileo [Ire]), most recently beaten a neck when second in the Prix

du Conseil de Paris (Fr-G2). They too have settled in at the Quarantine Center

in Shiroi City.

The Japan Cup Dirt, to be staged at about 1 1/8 miles at the right-handed

Hanshin Racecourse, boasts a purse of approximately $2,646,100.

Tin Cup Chalice is in fine condition after a 24-hour travel from his home

base at Finger Lakes.

"It was his first long-distance flight, but he is not showing any fatigue and

is doing great," groom Jan Keuer said. "He has a good appetite and I'm just

relieved. It's his first day here, so we'll only walk him around. We'll enter

the track from tomorrow and begin light training. If all goes well here (at

Shiroi), we'll give him one hard workout before we move to Hanshin Racecourse."

The first horse to sweep the "Big Apple Triple" for New York-bred

three-year-olds, Tin Cup Chalice was presented with the horse of the year honors

from the Finger Lakes Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association awards

this past Sunday.

Tin Cup Chalice is the first of three projected American representatives to

pitch camp, with Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) victor MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast) and

Suburban H. (G1) winner FROST GIANT (Giant's Causeway) also expected to ship in

for the dirt affair.