Japanese raider Obamburumai ‘not far’ off Golden Eagle top seeds, says ratings expert Gary Crispe

Japanese raider Obamburumai adds intrigue to the Golden Eagle as form guru Gary Crispe gives his thoughts on how he’ll measure up.

Japanese raider Obamburumai has the ratings to win the Golden Eagle on Saturday. Picture: David Swift

He's the little known Japanese raider with just five starts to his name and a $10 million Golden Eagle payday in his sights.

Obamburumai is not a name most Australian punters would have known a few weeks ago but the Keiji Yoshimura-trained galloper can thrust himself into the spotlight at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.

The son of Discreet Cat is set to be the first horse from Japan to line-up in Australia’s second richest event, staged exclusively for four-year-olds this weekend.

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But with just a handful of starts on his resume in Japan, he undoubtedly shapes as the most intriguing runner of the 20-strong Golden Eagle field.

Obamburumai was a last-start Group 1 placing in the NHK Mile Cup and has wins at Group 2 and Group 3 level but how does that measure up against Australia’s best?

Form guru Gary Crispe has run the rule over the Japanese raider’s short but successful career to date and this is what he found.

Onamburumai had a look around Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday. Picture: David Swift

“His figures are solid,’’ Crispe said.

“He comes into this on a Timeform rating of 115 off his Group 1 placing last start but he does tend to get back in his races and although he runs on strongly, it is not ideal for this race.

“However, the major chances in the race are around 119, 120 like Hawaii Five Oh and Amelia’s Jewel so Obamburumai is not far behind these good horses.”

Japanese horses have had success in Sydney’s premier carnivals before with Brave Smash finishing third in an The Everest in his first Australian campaign in 2017.

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Gun galloper Real Impact was a winner of the Group 1 George Ryder at the same track and trip as the Golden Eagle in 2015 before finishing an excellent runner up in the Doncaster Mile the same year.

“Real Impact, before he came to Sydney, had a 122 rating so he was a superior horse while Brave Smash came here at 113 and then he started to improve and got up to 122,“ Crispe said.

Obamburumai arrived in Australia last month for his Golden Eagle quest and has been preparing at Canterbury quarantine centre but received a trip to Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday.

Josh Parr travelled to Rosehill on Wednesday to ride Obamburumai. Picture: David Swift

New jockey Josh Parr, who is stepping in for the injured Japanese superstar Yutaka Take this weekend, gave Obamburumai a workout over 1000m and said he is “classic athlete”.

“The combination of strength, stamina and speed all in the one package so I’m quite taken by what I felt this morning,” Parr said.

“His work was very impressive.”

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Yoshimura arrived back in Australia this week after the Golden Eagle was put on his radar for Obamburumai following discussions with the Australian Turf Club at the beginning of September.

He believes Obamburumai has the ability to measure up this Saturday.

“He is three from five in his career, two graded race wins and also a third in a Group 1, so I do have faith, and the conditions really fit for him this time,“ he said via a translator.

Obamburumai’s chances were given a boost when he drew barrier two of 20 on Tuesday with Yoshimura confident he can be given a positive ride from the draw.

“The only race that he really missed the kick was the third race of his career. He was coming back from a spell and he was a bit agitated and quirky in the gates and not standing still,” Yoshimura said.

“He is normally very quick out of the gates, he does have speed, so I think barrier number two is going to be good for us.”

Originally published as Japanese raider Obamburumai ‘not far’ off Golden Eagle top seeds, says ratings expert Gary Crispe