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Williams tests Melbourne Cup favourite in Japan

Brad Waters - Monday September 11

Leading jockey Craig Williams has made a quick trip to Japan to get a feel of Australian-owned Melbourne Cup hopeful Admire Deus.

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Craig Williams made a quick trip to Japan to test a Melbourne Cup ride. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Admire Deus is in pre-quarantine training at Northern Farm in Japan and Williams hopped aboard the Australian Bloodstock-syndicated Admire Deus on Monday morning.

It is too early for jockeys to commit to Melbourne Cup rides but Australian Bloodstock co-founder Jamie Lovett told the Herald-Sun that representatives of new trainer Darren Weir are happy with the horse.

"If he likes the horse, it makes sense he would ride it because he rides for us," Lovett said.

"The guys who are currently with the horse are rapt with him.

"He's a very clean-winded and a very sound horse."

As Racenet reported on August 30, Admire Deus will travel to Australia in time to have a lead-up run in either the Group I Caulfield Stakes (2000m) or Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Admire Deus appeared on the Melbourne Cup radar after his fourth in the Group I Tenno Sho Spring (3200m) in April to be a $15 equal favourite with Almandin, Bonneval and Tiberian in CrownBet's latest market on the 2017 event.

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