HORSE RACING:JOCKEY ARRANGEMENTS for the all-powerful Aidan O'Brien stable in 2011 might be unclear after Johnny Murtagh's recent resignation but the champion trainer has turned to Colm O'Donoghue for a possible final hurrah to 2010 in the Far East.
O’Donoghue will again get the leg up on Joshua Tree in Sunday’s $6.1 million Japan Cup in Tokyo after the Co Cork-born rider was in the plate for an impressive Canadian International victory in Toronto last month.
Current plans are for Joshua Tree to travel from Tokyo to Hong Kong after Sunday’s race for the Vase race over a mile and a half at the major International fixture at which O’Donoghue is also due to get the leg up on Beethoven in the Mile event. O’Donoghue flew out to Tokyo yesterday for what will be his first ride in Japan.
“He flew out there last week and the lads say he is in great shape after travelling really well,” said O’Donoghue.
“It will be a mile and a half where they go hard all the way. That will make it a test which will suit my horse. I believe it’s a beautiful track and I’m really looking forward to it. But it will be a tough race with the horse that was second in the Arc (Nakayama Festa) running in it too.”
Joshua Tree is part of a strong European challenge for Japan’s richest race that includes the English horse Dandino as well as a four-string French team that contains the ex-Kevin Prendergast trained Mores Wells.
“All going well, I’ll fly out on Monday to Hong Kong where Joshua Tree is due to go in the Vase and if Beethoven manages to get into the Mile I’ll ride him too,” O’Donghue said.
In 2007 the O’Brien-trained Dylan Thomas was prevented from running in the Japan Cup due to problems with vaccination regulations but was flown on to Hong Kong where he ran the final race of his career.
