The first horse to represent Japan in the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival for four years, talented stayer Tokai Trick, has arrived in Victoria ready to target the 2010 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday November 2.

The last time Japanese horses competed in the spring Cups, stablemates Delta Blues and Pop Rock ran the quinella in the 2006 Melbourne Cup and this time the Kenji Nonaka-trained Tokai Trick is out to attempt a second Cup victory for Japan.

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Originally a number of other Japanese gallopers were nominated for the 150^th Melbourne Cup including Tenno Sho winner Jaguar Mail.

But after delays in approving overseas quarantine facilities, Tokai Trick is the only Japanese contender left in contention for the $6 million Melbourne Cup this spring.

The veteran nine-year-old is currently a $31 chance to become the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner at Sportsbet and is now residing at the Werribee International Horse Centre after landing in Melbourne on Monday.

The 2010 Caulfield Cup on October 16 is scheduled as Tokai Trick’s Australian race debut, for which the experienced son of El Condor Pasa is at $41 odds to win through Sportsbet.

A proven stayer, Tokai Trick has won eight races during his career including four at a distance of 3,000m and above.

If he makes the 2010 Melbourne Cup Field, Tokai Trick will be ridden by Japanese jockey Shinji Fujita, the hoop who was aboard Caulfield Cup runner-up Eye Popper five years ago.

This afternoon, Tuesday September 21, another international star heading towards the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups will arrive at Werribee, Hong Kong runner Mr Medici.

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