Craig Williams is aiming for a second win in the Tenno Sho in Kyoto, racing against the horse which gave him his first.
Williams rides Gold Ship in Sunday’s 3200m Group One race which also features his 2010 winner Jaguar Mail and global traveller Red Cadeaux, the only international runner.
The Australian jockey, is spending two months in Japan as he has done for the past few winters, gave Gold Ship a work-out on Friday.
“I just wanted to get a feel for what he had in mind, see where he is mentally,” Williams told www.japanracing.jp.
“He was really sharp and he’s in superb condition. I think he’s arguably the best horse in Japan so I’m very excited to be riding Gold Ship.
“I’ll have a walk on the course in Kyoto and see how the turf feels.”
Among Gold Ship’s opponents is global traveller Red Cadeaux, twice runner-up in the Melbourne Cup and a last-start sixth in Dubai.
The eight-year-old will be ridden by Gerald Mosse.
“He’s aged a year but his form is holding up and seeing his recent performances I don’t see any kind of deterioration whatsoever,” Ed Dunlop’s travelling foreman Robin Trevor Jones said.
“The barrier draw in five is super – it gives our jockey options to do what he wants.
“I would like him to just hold his position and hopefully sit in about sixth or seventh with a nice even pace and nice even gallop.”
