Racing
Japanese raider in line for Cup honours
Golden Snap will attempt to be the third Japanese trained runner to claim the Caulfield Cup.
Japanese trainer Katsunori Tanaka is hoping to join his father-in-law as the winner of one the 'three majors' during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Tanaka's father-in-law Yoshito Yahagi prepared Lys Gracieux to win the 2019 Cox Plate, before Tanaka had even taken out a trainer's licence.
Having held that licence now for five years, Tanaka has been meticulous in his preparation of Golden Snap who runs for the first time in Australia in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday.
Golden Snap will be aiming to become the third Japanese-trained galloper to win the race in 11 years following on from Admire Rakti (2014) and Mer De Glace (2019).
Tanaka has had the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double in the back of his mind for more than 18 months having travelled to Australia in April 2014 to inspect both the Caulfield and Flemington racecourses and the Werribee quarantine facilities.
Golden Snap may not be as well performed as those previous Caulfield Cup winners, but Tanaka said the mare was nicely handicapped with 53.5kg on Saturday.
"She is probably not as proven as some of the other Japanese horses that have come over in the past few years," Tanaka said.
"But I have been aiming to race her in Australia, especially in the Melbourne Cup, for a year-and-a-half and I think she is the right candidate as she is lightly handicapped.
"Her form is good, and I think she is suited to race in Australia.
"I am really quite confident that she can run a good race in the Caulfield Cup. We have her fit and ready to go, but there is also improvement to the Melbourne Cup as well."
Tanaka said Golden Snap can prove a handful for her handlers and that is why he has entrusted regular jockey Suguru Hamanaka with the ride.
The drew of 18 was not ideal, and Tanaka will offer no instructions for Hamanaka, although keeping the mare in clear running is his preferred option.
Tanaka said if Golden Snap begins well, she can race forward, if not, she will go back.
"We will have a discussion with Golden Snap about it," Tanaka joked.
"We want to ride her to keep her momentum going, we don't want to stop and start.
"I'm not worried about the track. She has raced on tight turning tracks in Japan and Caulfield is big enough for her."
Golden Snap is currently a $23 chance with Half Yours the $2.90 top elect.
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