Racing: Star Japanese stayers set sights on Melbourne Cup

Photo / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - Japanese horses have been cleared to travel to Australia only days before entries close for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

The Federal Government and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service last week approved two pre-export quarantine facilities in Japan, paving the way for the first Japanese spring carnival invasion since 2006.

Japanese horses have been banned from travelling to Australia since equine influenza outbreaks in both countries three years ago.

Racing Victoria racing operations manager Leigh Jordon said the lifting of the quarantine ban on Japanese horses would add to the strength of an international raid on the 150th Melbourne Cup.

He said Jaguar Mail and Meiner Kitz, the first two horses home in this year's group one Tenno Sho, Japan's top 3200m handicap, were expected to travel to Australia for the Cup.

Four-time premier jockey Craig Williams has accepted the Cup mount on Jaguar Mail after winning the Tenno Sho on the stayer.

Trained by Noriyuki Hori, Jaguar Mail is owned in the same interests as Delta Blues and Pop Rock, who were first and second respectively in the 2006 Melbourne Cup. Another Japanese stayer, Eye Popper, was second in the 2005 Caulfield Cup.

The approval of quarantine protocols between Australia and Japan may also pave the way for a historic new chapter in the Victoria Derby.

The connections of Break A Theory, a stablemate of Meiner Kitz, have also expressed interest in becoming the first internationally trained runner to contest Victoria's coveted 3-year-old Classic.

Jordon said the proven competitiveness of the Japanese horses would ensure they have a strong following in Australia.

- AAP