Despite being one of the top early fancies to take out the 150^th edition of the Melbourne Cup this spring, Japan’s top stayer Jaguar Mail is now likely to miss both the 2010 Melbourne Cup and 2010 Caulfield Cup.

The seven-year-old Tenno Sho winner is the current $15 second favourite, following the Bart Cummings-trained duo of Dariana and Faint Perfume, in the early Cup markets at [sportsbet].

But the ante-post betting markets are set for a shake-up following the announcement that Jaguar Mail will almost certainly be withdrawn from the Cups following the delay in Japan’s quarantine facilities being approved by Australian officials.

Jaguar Mail’s trainer Hori Noriyuki has stated he will not head to Australia for the Melbourne Cup Carnival with Jaguar Mail due to the short amount of time left to prepare for the Flemington feature.

There is still a strong contingent of Japanese horses among the 256 Melbourne Cup nominations, lead by Meiner Kitz.

The veteran eight-year-old is currently paying $21 at [sportsbet] after running second to Jaguar Mail in the Group 1 weight-for-age Tenno Sho earlier this year, which is run over the same testing ‘two mile’ distance as the Melbourne Cup.

Meiner Kitz has been rated by racing experts in Japan as a stronger horse than the Japanese duo that quinelled the 2006 Melbourne Cup, Delta Blues and Pop Rock.

Japan’s assault on the 2010 Melbourne Cup was also strengthened this week with the late nomination of Meisho Dontaku for both the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups.

Four-year-old Meisho Dontaku finished third in the Tenno Sho and looks a top chance at great odds if they receive a weight of 53kg or less for the Melbourne Cup.

The three other Japanese horses entered for the Melbourne Cup are Three Orion, Tokai Trick and White Pilgrim.

It will be a suffocating logjam of quality horses fighting for a spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup final field this year making for one blockbuster showdown on Tuesday November 2.

Weights for the Melbourne Cup will be declared on September 1, giving punters a clearer idea of what horses will be paid up for the first declarations a week later.

To stay up to date with the latest Melbourne Cup news, field announcements, betting previews and tips bookmark this page as we continue to analyse the form of this year’s Melbourne Cup hopefuls.

For the best Melbourne Cup odds on offer don’t go to the TAB. Jump online instead and discover the elite prices and offers available at [sportsbet].