Assistant trainer Koji Igarashi said the stable was happy with the gate but “it didn’t really matter” to the NHK Mile winner. Keiji Yoshimura-trained Obamburumai was third in the NHK Mile at Tokyo in 2023 before winning the Golden Eagle. The Panja Tower team sought advice from the winning stable before making the trip.
“Obamburumai wasn’t a group 1 winner, but he was a very strong juvenile, so we think it’s very similar and we’re hoping Panja Tower will also bring a good result,” Igarashi said via translator and bloodstock agent Satomi Oka.
“We got lots of feedback from the Obamburumai team, so we were very grateful that they supported us to come. The best advice they gave us was just trust all the Australian team.
“They are really good people and just try to do similar to what you do in Japan.
“It’s been really great. The ATC [Australian Turf Club], Canterbury racecourse [quarantine centre], everyone is very helpful. The people and the horses are very happy.
“I’ve seen Autumn Glow’s races, and yes, she’s a very, very strong horse. It is the first time for him to race against her, but he’s going really well and hopefully he can show his best form on the day.”
Hashiguchi and regular jockey Kohei Matsuyama were due to arrive in Sydney on Tuesday. Matsuyama was to partner Panja Tower in a track gallop on Wednesday at Randwick.
Igarashi said plans to tackle the Golden Eagle with Panja Tower were set in motion a year ago when part-owner Tomofusa Fukasawa came to Sydney on a Tokyo Owners Association tour.
“He fell in love with Australian racing,” he said.
“Before the horse won a group 1, the owner thought that this was a really good place for the horse to come.”
Each runner has a charity partner, which receives 10 per cent of that horse’s Golden Eagle prizemoney. The Station Limited missed out on a runner because of the shortfall but will gain $5000, the minimum percentage on offer.
Friends of the Mater Foundation were the big winner, drawing Autumn Glow.
