Japanese stayer Warp Speed getting ready for crack at 2024 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups

Competitive efforts in top staying races in his homeland should ensure Japanese stayer Warp Speed will be competitive in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

The connections of Japanese Caulfield and Melbourne Cup contender Warp Speed will bring a stable jockey to tackle the top local riders in the two Victorian showpiece contests.

Warp Speed will make his Australian debut in the Caulfield Cup, aiming to become the third Japanese runner to win the $5m race, following Admire Rakti (2014) and Mer De Glace (2019).

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Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Zac Purton rode Admire Rakti to his win while top local rider Damian Lane was aboard Mer De Glace in his victory.

Akira Sugawara will ride Warp Speed in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups after riding the Noboru Takagi-trained stallion in 10 of his 22 starts at home.

Takagi’s assistant trainer Isao Nakagaki said Sugawara deserved a shot at guiding Warp Speed to the six-year-old’s maiden Group 1 win.

“He’s a very good young upcoming rider that won a Group 1 not long ago,” Nakagaki said.

“The owner of the horse wanted to give him a go so he will ride the horse.

“He’s a very hardworking jockey and he studies a lot.

Warp Speed worked at the Werribee quarantine centre on Wednesday morning. Picture: Racing Photos

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“He’s watched a lot of international races and we’re sure he is well aware of how the races pan out and how they are run in Australia.

“We have no doubt in the jockey.”

Warp Speed has only had one start in Group 1 company in Japan for a fifth, beaten just over four lengths, behind top stayer T O Royal in the Tenno Sho (3200m) at Kyoto at his last run in April.

Warp Speed had finished third and second behind T O Royal in Group 3 and Group 2 races respectively in the lead-up to the Tenno Sho, showing he could compete with Japan’s best stayers.

Warp Speed contested the same two lead-up races as Japan’s sole Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues, who was beaten 14 lengths by champion stayer Deep Impact in the 2006 Tenno Sho before running third in the Caulfield Cup at his local debut later that year.

DOMINATION 💪

T O ROYAL pulls away to win the Tenno Sho (Spring) 🌸#テーオーロイヤル | @JRA_WorldRacingpic.twitter.com/6s3w5CSDvX

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) April 28, 2024

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Nakagaki said Warp Speed could improve on his Tenno Sho outing in the Melbourne Cup.

“Just the way he pulled up after the Tenno Sho was really good and he didn’t blow much at all,” Nakagaki said.

“I personally think he’s got more to offer and I expect him to run even better than what he did in the Tenno Sho in the Melbourne Cup.

“This is a horse that hasn’t a Group race yet so he’s got a nice handicap with 54.5 (kg).

“I think it’s fair considering his form and we do believe the handicap Group 1 suits him really well.

“We believe it’s a huge opportunity for him to take a Group 1.”

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Ladbrokes has Warp Speed at $17 in both its Caulfield and Melbourne Cup markets.

Nakagaki said Warp Speed had the ability to fire over 2400m first-up on Saturday week.

“We have been putting him in the training centre since August and he has done a lot of the gallops already,” he said.

“He’s actually ready to go for his first start in Australia.

“I think he’s good enough to show really good potential over 2400m so I think we’ve got a good chance in both races.”

Originally published as Japanese stayer Warp Speed getting ready for crack at 2024 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups