TOKYO, Nov 30: Tap Dance City, one of the outsiders, romped to victory and the first prize of 250 million yen ($2.3 million) in the Japan Cup on Sunday.

Ridden by Tetsuzo Sato, Tap Dance City built up a huge lead and made all the running to triumph by nine lengths.

The first five past the post were all trained in Japan as the home side routed challengers from England, France, the U.S. and Australia

Tap Dance City held the rail position on the rain-drenched course and raced alone. The opposition was beaten out of sight with That’s the Plenty finishing second three quarters of a length ahead of the favourite, Symboli Kris S.

The winner paid just under 13-1 on the Japanese Tote and there appeared to be no excuses for the foreign raiders, French challengers Tigertail and Ange Gabriel doing best in sixth and seventh.

The penultimate leg of the World Series Racing Championship had offered incentives this year to winners of earlier global races to try their luck in Tokyo.

But English-trained Islington and U.S. raider Johar, who both won races at the Breeders’ Cup in California a month ago, trailed in ninth and 16th.

Australian challenger Fields of Omagh, winner of the Cox Plate, finished last of 18.

Result: 1. Tap Dance City (ridden by Tetsuzo Sato) 2. That’s the Plenty (Katsumi Ando) 3. Symboli Kris S (Olivier Peslier)

18 ran. Winning distances: Nine lengths, three-quarters-of-a-length.

Winner trained in Japan by Shozo Sasaki

Value to winner: $2.3 million

Tote (to a 100 yen stake): Win: 1,380. Places: 280, 300, 110. Straight forecast: 15,660.—Reuters