Admire Jupiter 收到澳洲的邀請，秋天墨爾本見
Japanese stayer Admire Jupiter has leapt into contention for the Melbourne Cup after earning a berth with his determined win in the Tenno Sho.
Michael Eskander's Betstar installed him at $26 for the Cup on November 4 with last year's winner Efficient the $15 favourite.
Ridden by 2006 Melbourne Cup winning rider Yasunari Iwata in Sunday's 3200m Group One at Kyoto, Admire Jupiter held off Meisho Samson to claim his biggest prize.
The winner of the Tenno Sho gains automatic entry to the Cup which was won by Japanese horse Delta Blues in 2006 from his stablemate Pop Rock.
Admire Jupiter, a five-year-old son of French Deputy, finished a head in front of Meisho Samson and covered the 3200m in 3:15.1s, nearly two seconds slower than the record held by Deep Impact.
"I really wanted to win this race, no matter what," said owner Riichi Kondo, who openly wept following the race.
"I've won the [Japanese] Derby and some other big races, but this is the one I've always wanted most."
Kondo said Admire Jupiter would be rested until the northern autumn when he could head to Melbourne.
"He's run seven races without rest; I'm tempted to keep using him, but he needs a break. Otherwise, he could get hurt," Kondo told japanracing.jp.
"He has an invitation from Australia, and we have a lot to look forward to in the autumn."
Admire Jupiter spent 16 months on the sidelines after breaking his leg as a three-year-old.
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