Japan dreams of winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, widely regarded as Europe's greatest flat race, and Sunday's renewal will include a record four Japanese runners.
Things You Might Have Missed - March 1 So Sassy had a towel/parachute to deal with Image: Racing NSW/Sky Racing
Here s a few things you might have missed in the wide world of racing over the past week.
QUIRKY (from abroad)
Race stacked with colts and entires (Japan)
This is not something you d see in a race in Australia - an open-age contest filled entirely of colts and entires.
Sunday s Group Two Nakayama Kinen (1800m) was open to all-comers, but it turned out to be a testosterone-filled field of 14.
Trusty Japanese racing correspondent Graham Pavey explained that it s certainly not an uncommon occurence in Japan, given the scarcity of geldings.