2025 Japan Cup: Calandagan Becomes Sole Foreign Contender as Los Angeles and Two Others Withdraw

November 12, 2025 / Updated November 12, 2025

It has been announced that three of the four foreign horses that had accepted invitations to the international G1 race, the Japan Cup, to be held on November 30, 2025, have withdrawn. This leaves the formidable French horse Calandagan as the sole foreign contender, drawing focus to the showdown against the Japanese horses.

Key Points of This Article

• The only foreign horse scheduled to compete in the 2025 Japan Cup is France’s Calandagan.
• Los Angeles, Queenstown, and Goliath have withdrawn from the race.
• While expectations are high for Calandagan, there are concerns about the declining international prestige of the race.
• The race is now framed as “Europe’s Strongest vs. Japan’s Best,” with attention turning to the Japanese contenders.

The Three Withdrawn Foreign Horses

On November 12, 2025, the JRA announced that the following three foreign horses, who had accepted invitations to the Japan Cup (G1, Tokyo, Turf 2400m), have withdrawn:

• Los Angeles (4-year-old colt, trained by A. O’Brien)
• Queenstown (5-year-old gelding, trained by A. O’Brien)
• Goliath (5-year-old gelding, trained by F. Graffard)

As a result, of the four foreign horses originally scheduled to compete, only Calandagan (4-year-old gelding), trained by F. Graffard, remains.

High Expectations and Fan Reactions for Sole Entrant Calandagan

Following the news of successive withdrawals, the attention of horse racing fans has focused on the sole remaining entrant, Calandagan. Online comments show high expectations for the horse, with remarks such as, “It’s enough if Europe’s strongest comes,” and “Calandagan is the main event, so as long as he’s here, it’s fine.”

On the other hand, the withdrawal of the three invited horses has drawn various reactions from fans. Many expressed disappointment, particularly over Goliath’s withdrawal. The situation of having only one foreign participant has also led to harsh criticism, with some labeling it “Galapagos racing” and expressing concern over the decline of the race’s international standing.

2025 Japan Cup Outlook

With Calandagan as the only foreign horse, this year’s Japan Cup has a very clear “Japan’s Best vs. Europe’s Strongest” narrative. Among the Japanese contenders set to face him, fans have mentioned the following names:

Admire TerraSunrise EarthJustin PalaceShin EmperorSeiun HadesTastieraDanon DecileDeep MonsterMasquerade BallYoho Lake

How will the sole foreign contender, Calandagan, perform against Japan’s top horses? Anticipation continues to build as race day approaches.