HAYES ONLY HOPING

DAVID Hayes is buoyed by the way Boom Time has adjusted in Tokyo, but he doesn’t expect the Caulfield Cup winner to cause another big-race boilover in Sunday week’s Japan Cup.

While Hayes is confident Boom Time will acquit himself well in the 2400m race, he isn’t sure the six-year-old he owns outright can upset the strong local representation.

“We don’t think we can beat the best of the Japanese horses, but Caulfield Cup form is pretty good,” Hayes said.

“If we can keep him happy and keep him racing like that, we think we will be competitive, but we are not dreaming he could win it. He was invited (after his $51 Caulfield Cup victory), so we thought why not.”

Boom Time arrived in Japan on Tuesday morning, but took little time adapting to his new surrounds.

“He arrived safely and has eaten all his feed and taken all his liquids,” Hayes said. “He has a wonderful constitution.”

Hayes, who won the race with Better Loosen Up in 1990, will travel to Japan on Wednesday.

Jockey Cory Parish will probably fly out a day later for the biggest ride of his career.

Parish’s first Group 1 success in the Caulfield Cup was one of the rides of the carnival.

“It brings back great memories,” Hayes said of his two previous visits to the Japan Cup. “We won it with the only (Australian horse) to win it (Better Loosen Up), in the same colours (as Boom Time), and the only other time I went, Jeune (sixth in 1994) was an unlucky runner. We’re really looking forward to it.”