Japanese trainer Katsunori Tanaka is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father-in-law, Yoshito Yahagi, by claiming one of Melbourne’s prestigious spring features when Golden Snap contests the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday.

Yahagi made history when Lys Gracieux stormed to victory in the 2019 Cox Plate, at a time when Tanaka had yet to even take out his trainer’s licence. Five years later, the rising Japanese horseman is hoping to replicate that success with his own stable star, Golden Snap, who will make her Australian debut at Caulfield.

The talented mare will be chasing history as the third Japanese-trained runner to win the Caulfield Cup in the past 11 years, joining Admire Rakti (2014) and Mer De Glace (2019). Tanaka has long dreamed of securing the famous Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double, having visited both tracks and the Werribee quarantine facility back in 2014 to prepare for a future Australian campaign.

While Golden Snap may not yet have the record of her celebrated predecessors, Tanaka believes her light weight and consistency give her every chance to run a big race.

“She is probably not as proven as some of the other Japanese horses that have come over in the past few years,” Tanaka said.

“But I have been aiming to race her in Australia, especially in the Melbourne Cup, for a year-and-a-half and I think she is the right candidate as she is lightly handicapped.

“Her form is good, and I think she is suited to race in Australia.

“I am really quite confident that she can run a good race in the Caulfield Cup. We have her fit and ready to go, but there is also improvement to the Melbourne Cup as well.”

Tanaka said Golden Snap can be difficult to handle, which is why he’s placed his trust in regular jockey Suguru Hamanaka for Saturday’s ride. Despite drawing wide in barrier 18, Tanaka is keeping tactics simple — stay clear and keep momentum.

“We will have a discussion with Golden Snap about it,” Tanaka joked.

“We want to ride her to keep her momentum going, we don’t want to stop and start.

“I’m not worried about the track. She has raced on tight turning tracks in Japan and Caulfield is big enough for her.”

Golden Snap is currently rated a $23 chance for the Caulfield Cup, with Half Yours the $2.90 favourite.

Those planning to have a flutter on the Caulfield Cup or the Melbourne Cup can check Australia’s top betting sites, ranked among Google’s most searched platforms for horse racing odds, tips, and spring carnival offers.