Williams wins Japanese Group One

NAKAYAMA, Dec 19 AAP - Just a week after his international Group One success on Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden in the Hong Kong Vase, Australian jockey Craig Williams captured Japan's major two-year-old race.

Williams left Australia after his win on Ortensia in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes in Perth on November 19 to take up a six week contract in Japan.

He missed a Group One win by a half neck when second on Tosen Jordan in the Japan Cup but scored a decisive victory aboard unbeaten juvenile Alfredo in Sunday's Asaha Hai Futurity (1600m).

Williams steered Alfredo through a gap along the rail to beat Meiner Robusto by two lengths.

Alfredo's third win from three starts means he is the overwhelming favourite to be named Japan's champion juvenile for the season.

The winner of the Caulfield Cup on Southern Speed and the Cox Plate on Pinker Pinker, Williams missed the chance at a history making treble aboard Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup due to suspension.

Christophe Lemaire, who is also riding in Japan, took the mount on the French stayer who beat Red Cadeaux by the barest of margins.

Williams will be reunited with Southern Speed and Pinker Pinker when he returns to Australia with both mares well into their preparations for the the autumn carnival.

Southern Speed will be set for weight-for-age features including the Australian Cup (2000m), Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and the BMW (2400m) while Pinker Pinker will be kept to shorter distances with the Doncaster (1600m) a possible target.

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