Japanese jockey booked for Caulfield Cup

Japanese jockey Suguru Hamanaka will continue his association with staying mare Golden Snap in next month’s Caulfield Cup.

A 13-time Group 1 winner in Japan, Hamanaka has partnered Golden Snap in several of her standout performances, including her win in January’s Manyo Stakes (3000m) and her last-start placing in the Tancho Stakes (2600m) at Sapporo.

Kosi Kawakame, the Australian-based liaison for connections of the Katsunori Tanaka-trained mare, confirmed the booking and said Hamanaka will ride the mare in several pieces of trackwork ahead of the Caulfield Cup.

It is understood several leading Australian riders were approached for the ride prior to Hamanaka’s booking.

Golden Snap, who is rated $26 in Bet365’s Caulfield Cup market, must run in the top eight in the 2400m handicap to pass the first ballot clause for the Melbourne Cup.

“The connections have decided to get a Japanese jockey over, so the horse’s regular rider Suguru Hamanaka will ride her in both races,” Kawakame said.

“He’s never ridden in Australia but he’s a proven jockey that has ridden overseas many times. He has won 13 Group 1 races in Japan so he is a top rider and he knows the horse inside out.”

“At this stage, he will fly over the weekend before the Caulfield Cup to ride her in some work. He may try to pick up some other rides to familiarize himself with Australian racing.”

Golden Snap is currently in pre-export quarantine in Japan ahead of a flight to Melbourne next weekend.