Japanese raider chases Doncaster joy
Trainer Keiji Yoshimura is confident Obamburumai has arrived in Australia in the same condition as when he won the $10m Golden Eagle last spring as his Japanese raider aims up at Saturday week’s $4m Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick.
Yoshimura is in Australia and was on track at Canterbury Park on Wednesday morning while his star son of Discreet Cat was put through his paces ahead of his latest Sydney raid.
“I feel Obamburumai’s condition is great,” Yoshimura said through a translator.
“The preparation in Japan went really well and being his second time to Sydney, he travelled really well. He is a calm and in great condition.
“There is no difference to last time, he travelled well and he is comfortable. If he is comfortable than I am comfortable.”
Obamburumai was put through his paces at Canterbury Park on Wednesday morning while still going through mandatory quarantine procedures.
The star four-year-old had a light canter around the course proper for a lap before being given a pipe opener over the final 1000m of his second lap.
“We gave him some fast work on Wednesday morning and will look after him in the afternoon,” Yoshimura said. “I will see how he progresses over the next week when Damian Lane is going to ride him.”
Lane is set to come to Sydney next Wednesday to give the Japanese raider a hit-out at Royal Randwick before the Doncaster meeting. The Victorian-based hoop, who has spent several successful stints riding in Japan in recent years, is taking over from Josh Parr.
Parr was a late replacement for Yutaka Take last spring in the Golden Eagle after the legendary Japanese jockey was injured but Lane’s ability to ride 55kg with no issues was the deciding factor in the decision for him to take over in the Doncaster.
“Definitely the handicap of 55kg would have been quite difficult for Josh Parr to get down to so we decided to request Damian Lane,” Yoshimura said.
“I think it’s a good weight for the Doncaster.”
Obamburumai is an $8 second elect with TAB for the Doncaster behind tough Randwick Guineas winner Celestial Legend ($4.50), who will carry just 49kg in the handicap with Tyler Schiller aboard.