Japanese stars on Melbourne Spring Carnival hit list
Leading Victorian racing officials spearhead a 'united' Melbourne spring carnival recruitment drive to Japan.
Paul Bloodworth (Racing Victoria), Leigh Jordon (Victoria Racing Club) and Charlotte Mills (Moonee Valley Racing Club) will meet with major Japanese owners, trainers, breeders and officials during the week-long trip in a bid to secure greater spring carnival participation.
The success of Japanese runners last year, Prognosis and Warp Speed placed second respectively in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, has emboldened the touring party.
'It's good we're all going together,' Jordon said.
'A united front is much better than everyone going separate ways.'
•
The Valley has conducted its own recruitment missions past with strong success, but Mills welcomed the new approach.
'You're selling Victorian racing, as a trio that's got to be better,' Mills said.
'There's far more synergy now in terms of the program connection … you see horses go Cox Plate into Champions Stakes or the Champions Mile.'
The Valley has invited connections of multiple Group 1-placed Prognosis back for a second attempt at the Cox Plate.
'He's still racing well and still racing lightly, just cannot crack that elusive Group 1 and I know Shadai would definitely like to see that horse get a Group 1 win,' Mills said.
'He's already experienced quarantine at Werribee and raced so well here, second in a track-record breaking run to Via Sistina, we'd love him to come back and go one better.'
Potential Cups targets include the top five in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) last month at Kyoto.
Warp Speed, who placed fifth in the Tenno Sho last year, contested the Caulfield Cup (unplaced) and missed by the barest margin in a pulsating Melbourne Cup finish.
'Usually the winner (Redentor this year) goes to the Arc over the years,' Jordon said.
'Second (Byzantine Dream), third (Shonan La Punta), fourth (Sunrise Earth) and fifth (Meiner Emperor) are definitely on the list … we'll see them all, get feedback and answer any questions.'
Jordon would also love to attract an emerging star out of the Japanese Derby this Sunday in Tokyo.
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The Advertiser
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- The Advertiser
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But despite inaccuracy costing them dearly in the loss to St Kilda last weekend, the Demons have rediscovered their mojo and are a massive threat. "The form line, it stacks up. They have tinkered with their game a bit, they're moving the ball a bit faster - they're in good form," McRae said. It will be a massive game for Demons start Christian Petracca, who suffered serious internal injuries in the corresponding game a year ago. "He's a massive threat ... we'll treat him with as much respect as we should," McRae said. McRae is rapt with his own team's form and said his players' ability to lead themselves stacks up against when he was part of Brisbane's 2001-03 three-peat under coach Leigh Matthews. He said sometimes the Collingwood coaches need to stay out of the way of the players. "I did learn that from Leigh - he used to call it the snowball, when it's coming down the hill ... get out of the way," he said. Monday will also be the Big Freeze fundraiser for the FightMND charity, with former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher addressing the Magpies on Wednesday. Daniher, diagnosed with MND more than a decade ago, cannot speak and used eye-recognition technology for his speech. McRae's brother-in-law Pat also has the disease and was another VIP guest at Collingwood on Wednesday. "This one is pretty special - close to home. Our players are super-excited for it, you see them today warming up - all knowing it's a big day, they all have the (Big Freeze) beanies on at training," McRae said. "We want to play the game, not the occasion, which we talk about a lot - but it's a big occasion." Dan McStay could return for Collingwood and Bobby Hill is a health watch ahead of the AFL King's Birthday blockbuster against Melbourne. The Magpies will have at least two changes, with Lachie Schultz out for five to six weeks with a hamstring injury and Pat Lipinski in concussion protocols. Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medallist, was a notable absentee from training on Wednesday because of illness in his family. McStay is close to returning from the knee injury he suffered in the Anzac Day win over Essendon. Coach Craig McRae is hopeful Hill will play his 100th game, against the Demons. "At this stage, barring him getting sick, that will be the case," McRae said. "He's a little infectious guy that we all love very much - he's a bit of a prankster, too. "We love how electrifying he can be. He can really give the X-factor to our team." Collingwood will have two more training sessions ahead of Monday and McRae said McStay was close to an immediate AFL recall. "There's a big chance Dan will be available. We're not quite ready to announce that - he still has a little bit to go," McRae said. "His magnet is getting really close to being considered." Collingwood will also consider a second ruck to back up Darcy Cameron, given the form of Demons captain Max Gawn. Despite Cameron also having a big season, McRae called Gawn "the best ruckman in the competition. "I have huge respect for Max Gawn ... I still love Darcy, more," McRae said. Sitting on top of the ladder, Collingwood will start favourites against Melbourne. But despite inaccuracy costing them dearly in the loss to St Kilda last weekend, the Demons have rediscovered their mojo and are a massive threat. "The form line, it stacks up. They have tinkered with their game a bit, they're moving the ball a bit faster - they're in good form," McRae said. It will be a massive game for Demons start Christian Petracca, who suffered serious internal injuries in the corresponding game a year ago. "He's a massive threat ... we'll treat him with as much respect as we should," McRae said. McRae is rapt with his own team's form and said his players' ability to lead themselves stacks up against when he was part of Brisbane's 2001-03 three-peat under coach Leigh Matthews. He said sometimes the Collingwood coaches need to stay out of the way of the players. "I did learn that from Leigh - he used to call it the snowball, when it's coming down the hill ... get out of the way," he said. Monday will also be the Big Freeze fundraiser for the FightMND charity, with former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher addressing the Magpies on Wednesday. Daniher, diagnosed with MND more than a decade ago, cannot speak and used eye-recognition technology for his speech. McRae's brother-in-law Pat also has the disease and was another VIP guest at Collingwood on Wednesday. "This one is pretty special - close to home. Our players are super-excited for it, you see them today warming up - all knowing it's a big day, they all have the (Big Freeze) beanies on at training," McRae said. "We want to play the game, not the occasion, which we talk about a lot - but it's a big occasion."
