A total of 31 overseas runners have been nominated for the A$6.2 million Emirates Melbourne Cup among a list of 124 first-stage entries for the famous Flemington contest on Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Previous winner Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) and Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) are among the nominees, though the latter, the winner of his last three starts in Germany since being reunited with trainer Andreas Wohler, has been all but ruled out of a return to Australia by connections.
Britain, Ireland, France, Japan, Germany and, for the first time, America and the Czech Republic are the home countries of some of this year's raiders, with Aidan O'Brien having entered six horses, including G1 Ascot Gold Cup hero Order Of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner and Derby third Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Other potential runners from Ireland are the talented dual-purpose star and recent GIII American St Leger runner-up Clondaw Warrior (Ire) (Overbury {Ire}) from Willie Mullins's stable, which last year provided the runner-up, Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {JPN}). Tony Martin's Ebor H. winner Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}) has also been given an entry, while Clondaw Warrior's conqueror at Arlington, the Michael Maker-trained Da Big Hoss (Lemon Drop Kid), could become the first American runner in the Melbourne Cup.
Possible travellers from the UK include last year's fourth- and fifth-placed runners Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) and Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), as well as the Roger Varian-trained Barsanti (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}), Royal Ascot winner Kinema (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Ralph Beckett, and an octet from Godolphin's Newmarket-based yards of Saeed Bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby.
One possible runner from the UK which could have Australians scratching their heads is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained G2 Jockey Club S. winner Exosphere (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), not to be confused with Godolphin's recently retired G1 Golden Rose S. winner Exosphere (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}).
French-trained runners landed back-to-back Melbourne Cups in 2010 and 2011 courtesy of Americain (Dynaformer) and Dunaden (Fr) (Nicobar {GB}), and Francis Graffard could be the country's sole representative in the race this year with his first entrant, G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Another notable first is notched by Trip To Rhodos (Fr) (Rail Link {GB}), who was third in the G2 Darley Prix Kergorlay on his most recent outing and is trained in the Czech Republic by Pavel Tuma.
Japan struck with a one-two in the Melbourne Cup of 2006 when Delta Blues (JPN) (Dance In The Dark {JPN}) beat Pop Rock (JPN) (Helissio {FR}) by a short-head and their compatriot Curren Mirotic (JPN) (Heart's Cry {JPN}) is entered to take his chance this year.
Last year's winning trainer and Victorian champion handler Darren Weir has a total of ten horses nominated, while his Sydney counterpart Chris Waller has eight. The former Andre Fabre-trained Grey Lion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first Melbourne Cup entry for rookie trainer Matt Cumani, who will aim to go one better than his father Luca, who has saddled two Cup runners-up in Purple Moon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bauer (GB) (Halling).
“The Emirates Melbourne Cup is the world's premier staying race and the quality of the local and international entries for this year's race is outstanding,” Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter told racing.com.
“From an Australasian perspective, there is Darren Weir's defending champion Prince Of Penzance, as well as a host of talented 4-year-olds, including three of last season's Group 1 Derby winners and four of last season's Group 1 Oaks winners.”
He continued, “The depth among the international contingent is once again exceptional with the Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George, Goodwood Cup winner Big Orange, Ebor winner Heartbreak City and Tenno Sho runner-up Curren Mirotic amongst 31 international entries.
“It is an exciting prospect for the Melbourne Cup to have its first United States-trained runner in the form of North America's premier stayer Da Big Hoss, who has been nominated by trainer Michael Maker and connections.”
The weights for this year's Melbourne Cup will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
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