Globetrotting horse Jakkalberry is likely to head to the Group 1 Japan Cup (2400m) on November 25 after surprising many with his third-place finish in yesterday’s $6 million Mellbourne Cup.

A trip to the Japan Cup is on the cards for Melbourne Cup third Jakkalberry. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia.

The seven-year-old, who is owned by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, was written off by most punters following a lacklustre 13th in the Caulfield Cup and was at $81 at race jump yesterday.

But the Marco Botti-trained entire overcame his huge price to beat home the majority of his more fancied rivals and claim the $450,000 prize for third place.

Botti was always confident the son of Storming Home would improve from the Caulfield Cup run and said the Japan Cup is now a strong possibility.

“The horse has run a very good race, especially because in an ideal world he would have wanted a faster pace,” Botti said on his website.

“Colm [O’Donoghue] has ridden a great race saving ground on the rail. He was in perfect position all the way round and picked up well.

“But it would have been good for us if they had gone a little bit quicker. I was very positive after the Caulfield Cup when things didn’t pan out for us and I knew he would come on for that run.”

If Jakkalberry does as expected and contests the Japan Cup, it will be the seventh country he has competed in, having already raced in Italy, the UK, Hong Kong, Dubai, the US and Australia.

Botti said he enjoyed the “adventure” of bringing a horse to the Melbourne Cup and is hoping he will be back in the future.

“This has been a fantastic adventure and if we have a suitable horse, we will definitely be back again,” he said.

Luca Cumani-trained gelding Mount Athos, who ran home strongly for fifth in the Melbourne Cup, is also being considered for a trip to Japan.