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Japanese horses have been cleared to travel to Australia in time for this year’s Spring Racing Carnival, setting up their return to the Melbourne Cup after a three-year absence.

Australia’s government this week approved two pre-export quarantine facilities in Japan.

Japanese horses had been banned from travelling to Australia since equine influenza outbreaks in both countries in 2007.

“The Japanese horses proved during the 2005 and 2006 Spring Racing Carnivals that they are world-class performers,” Leigh Jordon, Racing Victoria’s racing operations general manager, said.

“Their presence in the Melbourne Cup, and any lead-up races for that matter, would add immense intrigue.”