THE Tomoyuki Umeda-trained Admire Ratki has become the first Japanese winner of the $3 million Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup.

The Heart’s Cry seven-year-old entire produced a withering finish, wide out on the course that just caught the New Zealand-bred and trained Ekraar mare Rising Romance.

Third was the race favourite, the Savabeel mare Lucia Valentina, who tracked Admire Ratki, finished just as strong, but had too much to do on the line, failing by just under a length.

“I’m so happy and crying,” said Umeda through a translator. “A Japanese horse has never won this race before so I’m honoured to win this race. I think the horse likes Australia.”

Guiding Admire Ratki around a congested field on the final bend was last season’s champion Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton.

“You only had to look at his run in the Japan Cup to know that he was going to be hard to beat today. I was able to get a lovely run in the race. Three wide with a bit of cover, Japanese horses love that. I just had to bring him with a nice clear run, I knew he was better than them and it worked out that way,” said Purton who had travelled to Japan in Hong Kong’s off-season specifically to look for a Cup ride.

Trainer Donna Logan held her head high in defeat, despite Rising Romance looking a clear winner with 200 metres to run.

“James rode her a treat but he is kicking himself, saying he went too soon, but you have to take the opportunity when the chances are there,” said Logan of the gilt-edged rails run that opened up for McDonald with 600 metres to run as Admire Ratki wobbled through the final turn 10-horses wide pushing Lucia Valentina even wider.

“We’ve been beaten by a better horse on the day but I’m very proud to say we have run second in a Caulfield Cup.”

Rising Romance will go to the paddock now whereas Admire Ratki and Lucia Valentina will press straight to the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

The other Japanese runner in the Caulfield Cup, the heavily backed Irish-bred Bande was one of four scratchings, along with Dandino, Dear Demi and Gris Caro.

Bande was ruled out with tendon soreness and is also out of the Emirates Melbourne Cup along with Dandino.

PENALTY

Admire Ratki was penalised 0.5kgs for his win in the Caulfield Cup taking his weight to 58.5kg.

“It is the lowest penalty given to the Caulfield Cup winner since Ming Dynasty escaped one altogether in 1980, but this is tempered by the fact that since the Melbourne Cup went metric in 1972 only Think Big (58.5kg) in 1975 has carried more than 58kg to victory,” said Racing Victoria general manager Greg Carpenter.

Since 1975, 19 horses have carried more than 58kg in the Melbourne Cup only two running into a place; Kingston Town, second in 1982 with 59kg, and Vintage Crop, third in 1995 with 59kg.