Two Japanese horses are expected to compete in Sydney at the inaugural 'The Championships' next autumn. Ian Mackay, chief executive of the new autumn carnival feature two-day program, said while there were still a few quarantine issues to be cleared, he was confident Lelouche and Hana's Gold will make the trip, becoming the first Japanese horses to compete in Australia since Delta Blues and Pop Rock ran the quinella in the 2006 Melbourne Cup, reports Racing Network.
Lelouche finished an unlucky sixth in the Japan Cup and is expected to travel to Sydney for the BMW and $4 million Queen Elizabeth while Hana's Gold is being aimed at the Coolmore Classic and Doncaster Mile.
"We are still working through quarantine and travel issues but they are very likely to attend," Mackay said.
It is expected that both horses would travel to Australia in late February, spending time at Werribee's quarantine facility before travelling to Sydney.
Lelouche is also likely to run in the Australian Cup.
"There are others that are nibbling but not to the point that we are confident enough to name them," Mackay said.
"There is interest out of Hong Kong, interest out of Europe, a warm level of interest, rather than the confidence that is being showed from Japan."