Bart Cummings admits the likely return of the Japanese horses in 2010 will be another challenge to his chances of claiming a 13th Melbourne Cup.The federal government has indicated quarantine protocols will be relaxed early next year to make it easier for the Japanese to travel to Australia.The last time they came in 2006, Delta Blues and Pop Rock were awesome in the Cup, running one-two with a half head between them and 4-1/2 lengths to third placed Maybe Better.In August 2007, equine influenza

Bart Cummings admits the likely return of the Japanese horses in 2010 will be another challenge to his chances of claiming a 13th Melbourne Cup.

The federal government has indicated quarantine protocols will be relaxed early next year to make it easier for the Japanese to travel to Australia.

The last time they came in 2006, Delta Blues and Pop Rock were awesome in the Cup, running one-two with a half head between them and 4-1/2 lengths to third placed Maybe Better.

In August 2007, equine influenza entered Australia via Japan, and heightened quarantine regulations have made it problematic for Japanese horses to return.

But with the way to be cleared for 2010, the locals and the Europeans have a task ahead of them.

"Their horses are well trained, they feed them well, they look well, they perform well," Cummings said.

"It will probably be harder for us.

"The Japanese have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in bloodlines so you would expect them to be good.

"And their training facilities are second to none.

"But you never say die."

Cummings' most recent Melbourne Cup winner Viewed, who won in 2008 and had a chequered run when seventh this year, has returned to the trainer's Melbourne stable to be prepared for the autumn.

"Viewed is back in Melbourne along with Sirmione and Moatize," Cummings said.

"They will head to the Australian Cup while Roman Emperor is in Sydney and we'll wait and see what he does."

The winner of the 2008 Australian Cup, Sirmione injured his back in the leadup to this year's event in February and has not raced since then.

Moatize emerged as a potential staying force with his win in the 2008 Saab Quality and sixth in Viewed's Melbourne Cup.

But he was found to have a knee injury after his third behind Theseo and Viewed in the Ranvet Stakes in the autumn and missed the rest of the year.

AJC Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor finished 21st of the 23 runners in the Melbourne Cup after running second to Viewed in the Caulfield Cup.

Cummings' third Cup runner, Allez Wonder, finished 16th and will be kept to shorter distances this autumn.