28-05-2025
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.'
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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.
