きゅーご（9-5）🟣

Let me clarify my view on Japanese horses: for me, the issue lies in the preparation for major European races, not the horses' intrinsic quality. You cannot send a horse to race in England or Ireland without it having some solid race experience under its belt. Peak-season European races are different from those in Dubai; most European horses aren't ready for them. Competing in the King George—given the demands of the Ascot course—requires battle-hardened horses. The same issue arises when European horses race in Japan or Hong Kong: the end of the season is tough for them following grueling campaigns in Europe. Calandagan won in Japan, but that remains an exception, as he was at the peak of his powers and is a gelding. I am convinced that with preparation more specifically tailored to the European racing style, Japanese horses would perform much better; however, this would require significant financial investment and giving up racing in Japan—that is the price to pay for international glory.