Caulfield Cup: Admire Rakti storms home for Zac Purton and Japanese trainer Tomoyuki Umeda
We always feared when the Japanese would return, and eight years after they won the Melbourne Cup, Admire Rakti has stormed home to win the $3 million Caulfield Cup.
Japan is widely recognised as boasting some of the world's best gallopers, and even a second-tier stayer like Admire Rakti has proven too classy for Australian his rivals.
Ridden by Zac Purton, Admire Rakti ($11) settled worse than midfield but charged home under the top weight to defeat the mares Rising Romance ($12) and Lucia Valentina ($4).
It was sweet revenge of sorts for the Japanese, who lost their other Cups contender Bande through injury earlier in the week.
Winning trainer Tomoyuki Umeda admitted he was concerned with Admire Rakti's 58kg impost.
"I wasn't sure about it, but he clearly likes Australia," Umeda said through an interpreter.
"If everything goes well, hopefully his luck keeps going to the Melbourne Cup.
"Hopefully the owner likes it here and we can come back again next year."
For Purton, who has proved himself against the best riders in the world in Hong Kong, it was his first triumph in one of Australia's majors.
"I like travelling the world. I like riding in these races. Now I'm getting the opportunities and it's what every jockey dreams of," he said.
"I specifically went to Japan in the [Hong Kong] off season to look for a Cups ride ... so far, so good, but it's not over yet," hinting at a race on the first Tuesday in November.
Purton has the ride aboard dual Doncaster winner Sacred Falls in next week's Cox Plate before rejoining Admire Rakti in the Melbourne Cup.
Admire Rakti was given 56kg in the Caulfield Cup on the back of solid form including a close fourth in last year's Japan Cup, but he was asked to carry 58kg when weights were raised 2kg.
This means he might receive a small penalty, if any, for the Melbourne Cup for which is already atop the weights with 58kg.
Purton said he was still confident his horse had the edge to do the double, and so are the bookmakers, installing him as the new $5 favourite.
"These aren't the best ones they've got that they bring out, so when they bring the B and C graders and they're still winning, it just shows you how good they are back home," he said of the Japanese.
McDonald thought he had the race won
Bande's absence meant there was no natural pacesetter, and the race ended up being run at a farcical pace.
It gave extra merit to the runs of Admire Rakti, Lucia Valentina and Araldo who had to come from back in the field.
James McDonald looked as if he had pinched the race aboard Rising Romance after getting a dream rails run to hit the front entering the straight.
But Admire Rakti's late surge proved irrepressible.
Rising Romance's trainer Donna Logan was thrilled with the performance despite having her heart broken on the line.
"James rode her a treat but he is kicking himself, saying he went too soon, but you have to take the opportunity when the chances are there," she said.
"We've been beaten by a better horse on the day but I'm very proud to say we have run second in a Caulfield Cup."
Logan said she would stick to her plan for Rising Romance and send the mare for a spell.
Meanwhile it was an ugly race to watch for favourite backers, as Lucia Valentina was forced to race back and wide with cover, before she was forced wider still rounding the turn.
Her jockey, Kerrin McEvoy, said she was gallant in defeat.
"I was on the back of the winner and I wasn't sure how far he would take me into the race, so I popped out to make my run and then he's flushed me fairly wide," he said.
"She was game, she hit the line strong but just didn't get the rub of the green we needed."
Kris Lees said he would still like to press ahead to the Melbourne Cup with Lucia Valentina.
Luke Nolen was suspended for 10 meetings for causing interference aboard Brambles (fourth), while Purton was fined for excessive whip use.
Hugh Bowman, meanwhile, was outed for 20 meetings on a charge of improper riding in the Caulfield Classic.
