Racing: Much to admire in Caulfield Cup success

Zac Purton on Admire Rakti wins the Caulfield Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Japan's Admire Rakti has produced a withering sprint to win the $3 million Caulfield Cup.

Settling in the second half of the field, Admire Rakti ($11) mowed down New Zealand mare Rising Romance ($12) to reinforce the strength of Japanese-trained stayers in world racing.

Admire Rakti was ridden by Australian jockey Zac Purton who returned from Hong Kong to ride the top-weight.

The favourite, Lucia Valentina, took third place.

Admire Rakti was one of two Japanese horses to accept for the Caulfield Cup but Bande was withdrawn 24 hours before the race because of a tendon issue.

Rising Romance was sent forward at the start by expat New Zealand jockey James McDonald before he took a trail.

She didn't have to go around a horse as McDonald shot her to the front and was being hailed the winner until Admire Rakti arrived on the scene.

"We've been beaten by a better horse on the day," Rising Romance's trainer Donna Logan said.

Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller had four runners with Junoob doing best of the quartet, finishing seventh for the former Kiwi.

Meanwhile, two group one winners resuming from a spell shared the prize in the Caulfield Sprint yesterday.

With contrasting racing styles, Bel Sprinter and Miracles Of Life could not be separated at the end of the 1100m group two sprint.

Miracles Of Life (Hugh Bowman) was up near the lead for the majority of the race while Bel Sprinter (Ben Melham), who had began well, couldn't muster the early speed and was at the back turning for home.

Looking the winner with 100m to run, Miracles Of Life was grabbed right on the line to share the spoils with Bel Sprinter.