<h1>Melbourne Spring Carnival Targets Japanese Stars</h1> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Leading Victorian racing officials will spearhead a "united" Melbourne spring carnival recruitment drive to Japan.</p> <p>Paul Bloodworth (Racing Victoria), Leigh Jordon (Victoria Racing Club) and Charlotte Mills (Moonee Valley Racing Club) will meet with major Japanese owners, trainers, breeders and officials during the week-long trip in a bid to secure greater spring carnival participation.</p> <p>The success of Japanese runners last year, Prognosis and Warp Speed placed second respectively in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, has emboldened the touring party.</p> <p>"It's good we're all going together," Jordon said.</p> <p>"A united front is much better than everyone going separate ways."</p> <p>The Valley has conducted its own recruitment missions in the past with strong success, but Mills welcomed the new approach.</p> <p>"You're selling Victorian racing, as a trio that's got to be better," Mills said.</p> <p>"There's far more synergy now in terms of the program connection ... you see horses go Cox Plate into Champions Stakes or the Champions Mile."</p> <p>The Valley has invited connections of multiple Group 1-placed Prognosis back for a second attempt at the Cox Plate.</p> <p>"He's still racing well and still racing lightly, just cannot crack that elusive Group 1 and I know Shadai would definitely like to see that horse get a Group 1 win," Mills said.</p> <p>"He's already experienced quarantine at Werribee and raced so well here, second in a track-record breaking run to Via Sistina, we'd love him to come back and go one better."</p> <p>Potential Cups targets include the top five in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) last month at Kyoto.</p> <p>Warp Speed, who placed fifth in the Tenno Sho last year, contested the Caulfield Cup (unplaced) and missed by the barest margin in a pulsating Melbourne Cup finish.</p> <p>"Usually the winner (Redentor this year) goes to the Arc over the years," Jordon said.</p> <p>"Second (Byzantine Dream), third (Shonan La Punta), fourth (Sunrise Earth) and fifth (Meiner Emperor) are definitely on the list ... we'll see them all, get feedback and answer any questions."</p> <p>Jordon would also love to attract an emerging star out of the Japanese Derby this Sunday in Tokyo.</p>