Big race maestro Ivan Allan is hoping to gain a berth in the Japan Cup field next month with staying-bred Self Flit. When entries closed yesterday, Allan had nominated both Hong Kong Classic Mile victor Self Flit and Singapore Classic winner Come See You for the World Series leg over 2,400 metres in Tokyo.

'Self Flit probably needs to win a race to be considered for an invitation to the race, but he has a number of possibilities in the weeks coming up,' Allan said last night. 'He is bred to stay that sort of distance and now that he's a five-year-old, I would be keen to make the trip if he can get a start.'

Allan has been a regular participant in the Japan Cup, notably with Indigenous. He finished second in 1999 and continued to contest the race with credit, running well last year before his retirement as a 10-year-old.