Rising Sun
July 29th 2010 21:22
The wait is nearly over.
Since the Equine Influenza outbreak in 2007 Japanese horses have been banned from entering into Australia. But this week the Australian Federal Government and AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) approved two pre-export quarantine facilities in Japan in Tokyo and Miho.
(photo: japanracing.jp) click for enlargement
"This now paves the way for Japanese horses to travel to Australia. The approval of the pre-export facilities at Tokyo and Nakayama was the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle with Tokyo the preferred venue for Spring Racing Carnival aspirants.
We extend our appreciation to the Federal Government, in particular Minister Tony Burke, and AQIS for their efforts in finalising the approval process in time for this year's Spring Racing Carnival.
This approval delivers a positive outcome for the state of Victoria and indeed the nation with a large contingent of Japanese media and tourists now set to join their horses in Melbourne in the coming months." – Racing Victoria General Manger Racing Operations, Leigh Jordon.
It appeared that Japanese staying horses were about to dominate the Melbourne Spring staying races after the 2nd placing by Eye Popper in the 2005 Caulfield Cup behind Railings; and in 2006 the Melbourne Cup quinella when stablemates Delta Blues and Pop Rock fought out an exciting finish in a two-horse-war to the line. Delta Blues prevailed by the narrowest margin starting at $17.50 and was the top speed selection from Speedratings.
The Japanese have developed some of the best staying bloodlines in the world in recent times, producing champion performers such as Deep Impact who started favourite in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and finished third, but was controversially disqualified later after testing positive for a banned substance.
This year it is likely that the first two horses home in the Group One Tenno Sho (Spring), Jaguar Mail and Meiner Kitz, will be aimed at the Melbourne Cup. Australian jockey Craig Williams was aboard Jaguar Mail when he won the Tenno Sho by three-quarters of a length from Meiner Kitz; these two spacing the rest with 3rd placed Meisho Dontaku 5 lengths away in third position. Craig Williams has already been booked to ride Jaguar Mail in the Melbourne Spring and will be a big asset to the horse with his local knowledge.
The Japanese seem to have adopted the wise move of letting their horses compete in the Caulfield Cup as a lead up race on the way through to the Melbourne Cup. This has the twofold effect of allowing the horses to adapt to Australian racing, while also allowing us the benefit of gauging performance and likely improvement. The Melbourne Cup, by this disclosure of form, is enhanced as a betting proposition.
It is extremely difficult to assess a Melbourne Cup with overseas horses arriving for a hit-and-run assignment. Although few can master the task (only Dermot Weld) and there is a litany of highly regarded failures. But the speedfigures have easily identified the prospects of those who have a prior start - with Delta Blues, and Media Puzzle, both having brilliant speedfigures before winning the Melbourne Cup.
Video of The 2010 Tenno Sho (Spring)
Jaguar Mail is number 12 and settles in 10th position passing the post the first time around.
Since the Equine Influenza outbreak in 2007 Japanese horses have been banned from entering into Australia. But this week the Australian Federal Government and AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) approved two pre-export quarantine facilities in Japan in Tokyo and Miho.
Jaguar Mail winning the Tenno Sho
(photo: japanracing.jp) click for enlargement
"This now paves the way for Japanese horses to travel to Australia. The approval of the pre-export facilities at Tokyo and Nakayama was the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle with Tokyo the preferred venue for Spring Racing Carnival aspirants.
We extend our appreciation to the Federal Government, in particular Minister Tony Burke, and AQIS for their efforts in finalising the approval process in time for this year's Spring Racing Carnival.
This approval delivers a positive outcome for the state of Victoria and indeed the nation with a large contingent of Japanese media and tourists now set to join their horses in Melbourne in the coming months." – Racing Victoria General Manger Racing Operations, Leigh Jordon.
It appeared that Japanese staying horses were about to dominate the Melbourne Spring staying races after the 2nd placing by Eye Popper in the 2005 Caulfield Cup behind Railings; and in 2006 the Melbourne Cup quinella when stablemates Delta Blues and Pop Rock fought out an exciting finish in a two-horse-war to the line. Delta Blues prevailed by the narrowest margin starting at $17.50 and was the top speed selection from Speedratings.
The Japanese have developed some of the best staying bloodlines in the world in recent times, producing champion performers such as Deep Impact who started favourite in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and finished third, but was controversially disqualified later after testing positive for a banned substance.
This year it is likely that the first two horses home in the Group One Tenno Sho (Spring), Jaguar Mail and Meiner Kitz, will be aimed at the Melbourne Cup. Australian jockey Craig Williams was aboard Jaguar Mail when he won the Tenno Sho by three-quarters of a length from Meiner Kitz; these two spacing the rest with 3rd placed Meisho Dontaku 5 lengths away in third position. Craig Williams has already been booked to ride Jaguar Mail in the Melbourne Spring and will be a big asset to the horse with his local knowledge.
The Japanese seem to have adopted the wise move of letting their horses compete in the Caulfield Cup as a lead up race on the way through to the Melbourne Cup. This has the twofold effect of allowing the horses to adapt to Australian racing, while also allowing us the benefit of gauging performance and likely improvement. The Melbourne Cup, by this disclosure of form, is enhanced as a betting proposition.
It is extremely difficult to assess a Melbourne Cup with overseas horses arriving for a hit-and-run assignment. Although few can master the task (only Dermot Weld) and there is a litany of highly regarded failures. But the speedfigures have easily identified the prospects of those who have a prior start - with Delta Blues, and Media Puzzle, both having brilliant speedfigures before winning the Melbourne Cup.
Video of The 2010 Tenno Sho (Spring)
Jaguar Mail is number 12 and settles in 10th position passing the post the first time around.
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