Japanese raider Breakup looms as the danger horse in Saturday’s (21 October) G1 AU$5 million (approx. HK$24.48 million) Caulfield Cup (2400m) as he aims to hold off a barrage of tough opposition from other overseas visitors and elite local stayers.

The Japanese have enjoyed tremendous success with their hit-and-run missions to Australia where they showcased the ability of their stayers with Delta Blues and Pop Rock, finishing first and second, respectively, in the 2006 G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

They both competed in the Caulfield Cup that year, with Delta Blues finishing third and Pop Rock an unlucky seventh.

It was 12 months earlier that the first serious Japanese raid came when Eye Popper ran second in the Caulfield Cup and 12th in the Melbourne Cup.

Ridden by Zac Purton, Admire Rakti then struck in the 2014 Caulfield Cup, followed by Mer De Glace in 2019 – the same year Lys Gracieux won the G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), partnered by Australian jockey Damian Lane.

It’s little wonder there is plenty of respect for Breakup, to be ridden by Lane, who has experienced great success in Japan, the latest with his sixth local Group 1 victory in the Japanese Derby (2400m) on Tastiera in May.

Breakup’s last run was in June when he finished 12th of 17 in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m), beaten seven lengths by the world’s highest-rated galloper, Equinox.

English visitor West Wind Blows ran a great race at his Australian debut in the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and he’ll again push forward and is expected to be joined by Breakup. It guarantees a genuinely run race and both will relish the 2400m on the Caulfield track which can be tricky. The in-form Spirit Ridge will also push forward.

Without A Fight is an extremely talented former international who has great form leading into the Cup and has the benefit of going around Caulfield for the first time in the G1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) last month and is ready for the step up to 2400m.

Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip was second in this race last year and his recent form, including a barnstorming finish to grab the Turnbull Stakes at his most recent run earlier this month, has him high up on the list of fancies.

Irishman Joseph O’Brien has made the trip across with Valiant King and Okita Soushi and the capabilities of the pair in this class of race remains unclear, but his success in Australia with two Melbourne Cup winners demands plenty of respect for any horse he travels.

Master trainer Chris Waller has made a bold prediction that Soulcombe is “the right horse in the right race” for his tilt at more Cup glory.

Winning two of the past three Caulfield Cups with Verry Elleegant (2020) and Durston (2022), Waller knows how to prepare horses for the big contests and says he couldn’t be happier with Soulcombe’s preparation going into the race.

“2400m he loves, so we should be starting to see something pretty special on Saturday,” Waller said.

Waller will also saddle-up Francesco Guardi and Montefilia.

“All three are decent horses and deserve to be there, no surprises if any of the three got up,” he said.

Among the less fancied horses, local trainer Grahame Begg is confident that Nonconformist is capable of running a big race.

As for Breakup, like many other runners in the Caulfield Cup is also aiming for the Melbourne Cup in November, the gelding’s trainer Tatsuya Yoshioka said: “We are here to win both Cups and we’re pretty confident in both.”