Melbourne Cup noms: European three-year-old numbers surge for our race following recent successes
What started out as a trickle of three-year-old stayers heading Down Under to contest our famous Melbourne Cup could turn into torrent after this year’s nominations were announced.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The success of Melbourne Cup winners Cross Counter and Rekindling has led to a record number of northern hemisphere three-year-old horses nominated for the Flemington classic.
Cross Counter, the first Godolphin and English-trained horse to win the Cup, lumped only 51 kilograms last year under champion Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
Rekindling carried 51.5kg in 2017 to outgun Johannes Vermeer and give six-time Melbourne Cup winner Lloyd and Nick Williams an ownership quinella.
Of the 152 entries for the Melbourne Cup, including 39 internationals, 13 will look to follow in Cross Counter’s and Rekindling’s hoof-steps as northern hemisphere three-year-old winners.
The $5.15 million Stella Artois Caulfield Cup, which netted 143 entries, including 25 internationals, could see its first ever European juvenile contest the 2400m classic with recent Royal Ascot winner South Pacific among eight young raiders.
Under new benchmark weight system, to be confirmed next month, young raiders will be alloted extra weight in a bid to level the field.
CAULFIELD TIPS: QUINNY PUMPED ABOUT HIS MAGIC TRICK
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Nick Williams on Thursday declared last year’s beaten Melbourne Cup favourite Yucatan, Homesman and Mackinnon Stakes runner-up Latrobe, a northern hemisphere three-year-old last season, among Macedon Lodge’s top picks.
“We have nominated a number of horses for the major races, it’s just fingers crossed that we can get one or two of them there in good form,” Williams said.
“Obviously last year Yucatan was a bit of a star and he seems to be doing everything right at the moment.”
Forgotten stayer, 2017 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup runner-up Johannes Vermeer, who finished fourth in the Blamey Stakes last March, first up after 68 weeks, could figure again in the spring.
“He’ll run in the next two or three weeks,” Williams said.
“He’s a horse that’s been, long before we had anything to do with him, even as a two year old had leg issues, and he’s been a constant battle to keep on his feet and seems to be in good form at the moment so hopefully we can get him there.”
Latrobe is likely to figure prominently for the Williams camp also, as well some “horses down in the weights” the yard will try and sneak into the Melbourne Cup through The Bart Cummings (2500m).
Racing Victoria general manager Greg Carpenter will release the weights for Melbourne Cup entrants, including northern hemisphere three year olds, on September 10.
“There is great depth among the entries and it will be a challenge to secure a place in both races,” Carpenter said.
“It’s great to see Cross Counter given his chance to become the first dual international winner of the Melbourne Cup.”
A number of derby winners have nominated for both races as well as exciting Japanese prospect Mer De Glace, likely to target the Caulfield Cup.
“It’s equally pleasing to see so many Derby, Oaks and interstate Cup winners among the entries … it’s terrific to see a group of horses that are specifically targeting the Caulfield Cup.”
MELBOURNE CUP
Flemington, November 5
KEY PLAYERS
— Powerhouse Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has nominated 11 horses for the Melbourne Cup and eight for the Caulfield Cup, including Il Paradiso, Hunting Horn, Eminence and Cape Of Good Hope.
— O’Brien’s son Joseph, who prepared 2017 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling has entered four potential starters, including Master Of Design and Buckhurst.
— Last year’s beaten favourite Yucatan is among 17 nominations that six-time Melbourne Cup winners Lloyd and Nick Williams have interests in, including 13 prepared at Macedon Lodge.
— South Australian Derby winner Qafila is one of eight entries for Team Hayes-Dabernig, along with Rostropovich and runaway 2018 Ebor winner Muntahaa.
— Gai Waterhouse has entered unraced colt Entente, while Lindsay Smith also entered Once Were Lost before the staying prospect debuted yesterday at Northam and finished fifth.
— is Verry Elleegant the one to deliver Chris Waller his first Melbourne Cup? If not Australia’s top trainer has 11 others nominated in the hope of a breakthrough success.
— 2018 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter is one of only two runners for Godolphin’s English trainer Charlie Appleby.
— First seven horses past the post last year nominated for the 2019 renewal.
— This year’s winners of the Sydney Cup (Shraaoh), Adelaide Cup (Surprise Baby) and Brisbane Cup (Sixties Groove) among the nominations.
— Untapped Japanese colt Mer De Glace will target the Caulfield Cup but is also nominated for the Melbourne Cup.
— Wins by Cross Counter (2018) and Rekindling (2017) has led to a record haul of 13 northern hemisphere three year-old’s nominated for the Cup.
THE NOMS
1 ALFARRIS (FR) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
2 ALIFEROUS Kris Lees
3 AMBITIOUS (JPN) Anthony Freedman
4 ANGEL OF HEAVEN Kris Lees
5 ANGEL OF TRUTH Gwenda Markwell
6 ATTENTION RUN (GER) Kris Lees
7 AVILIUS (GB) James Cummings
8 AZURO (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
9 BARSANTI (IRE) Roger Varian
10 BASS (JPN) Liam Howley
11 BEAU BALMAIN (GER) Jim Conlan
12 BIG DUKE (IRE) Kris Lees
13 BIN BATTUTA (GB) Saeed Bin Suroor
14 BIZZWINKLE (NZ) Patrick Payne
15 BLUE BREEZE (NZ) Allan Morley
16 BONDEIGER Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
17 BRIMHAM ROCKS (GB) Chris Waller
18 BUCKHURST (IRE) Joseph O’Brien
19 CALIBURN (IRE) Jamie Richards
20 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (IRE) Aidan O’Brien
21 CARIFPeter & Paul Snowden
22 CASCADIAN (GB) James Cummings
23 CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE) Aidan O’Brien
24 CROSS COUNTER (GB) Charlie Appleby
25 CROWN PROSECUTOR Stephen Marsh
26 DABIYR (IRE) Chris Waller
27 DAL HARRAILD (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
28 DASHING WILLOUGHBY (GB) Andrew Balding
29 DESERT SKYLINE (IRE) David Elsworth
30 DIVANATION Tony McEvoy
31 DJANGO FREEMAN (GER) Robert Hickmott
32 DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (IRE) Liam Howley
33 DOWNDRAFT (IRE) Joseph O’Brien
34 DURETTO (GB) Matt Cumani
35 ECHO LAD Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
36 EMINENCE (IRE) Aidan O’Brien
37 ENTENTE Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
38 ETYMOLOGYJames Cummings
39 EXEMPLAR (IRE) Liam Howley
40 FAIRLIGHT (IRE) Kris Lees
41 FINCHE (GB) Chris Waller
42 GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (FR) Archie Alexander
43 GIRL TUESDAYChris Waller
44 GLORY DAYS (NZ) Bill Thurlow
45 GOLD MOUNT (GB) Ian Williams
46 GREY LION (IRE) Matthew Smith
47 GUNDOWN Michael Moroney
48 HAKY (IRE) John Hammond
49 HANG MAN (IRE) Michael Moroney
50 HARIPOUR (IRE) Chris Waller
51 HARRISON (GB) Liam Howley
52 HEART OF GRACE (JPN) Frank Pangallo
53 HOMESMAN (USA) Liam Howley
54 HUMIDOR (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
55 HUNTING HORN (IRE) Aidan O’Brien
56 HUSH WRITER (JPN) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
57 IL PARADISO (USA) Aidan O’Brien
58 ILWENDO (GER) Matthew Smith
59 IN A TWINKLING Jamie Richards
60 ISPOLINI (GB) Charlie Appleby
61 JOHANNES VERMEER (IRE) Liam Howley
62 JUST THINKIN’ Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
63 KENEDNA Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
64 KEW GARDENS (IRE) Aidan O’Brien
65 KING OF LEOGRANCE (FR) Liam Howley
66 KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) Chris Waller
67 LADY YOUNG Tony McEvoy
68 LATROBE (IRE) Joseph O’Brien
69 LOOKS LIKE ELVIS Bryan Dais
70 LORD FANDANGO (GER) Archie Alexander
71 LYS GRACIEUX (JPN) Yoshito Yahagi
72 MAGIC WAND (IRE) Aidan O’Brien
73 MARMELO (GB) Hughie Morrison
74 MASTER OF REALITY (IRE) Joseph O’Brien
75 MASTER OF WINE (GER) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
76 MEINER WUNSCH (JPN) Takahiro Mizuno
77 MER DE GLACE (JPN) Hisashi Shimizu
78 MIDTERM (GB) Michael & Luke Cerchi
79 MIRAGE DANCER (GB) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
80 MORANDO (FR) Andrew Balding
81 MOSH MUSIC Archie Alexander
82 MOUNT EVEREST (IRE) Aidan O’Brien
83 MOUNTAIN HUNTER (USA) Saeed Bin Suroor
84 MR QUICKIE Phillip Stokes
85 MUNTAHAA (IRE) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
86 MUSTAJEER (GB) Kris Lees
87 NELSON (IRE) Liam Howley
88 NEUFBOSC (FR) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
89 NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) Chris Waller
90 NORWAY (IRE) Aidan O’Brien
91 ONCE WERE LOST (IRE) Lindsey Smith
92 OUR CANDIDATE (IRE) Kris Lees
93 OUR CENTURY (IRE) Kim Waugh
94 OUR VENICE BEACH (IRE) Liam Howley
95 PATRICK ERIN (NZ) Chris Waller
96 POUNAMU Michael Kent
97 PRINCE OF ARRAN (GB) Charlie Fellowes
98 QAFILA David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
99 RAHEEN HOUSE (IRE) William Haggas
100 RAYMOND TUSK (IRE) Richard Hannon
101 RE EDIT Chris Waller
102 RED CARDINAL (IRE) Kris Lees
103 RED GALILEO (GB) Saeed Bin Suroor
104 RED VERDON (USA) Ed Dunlop
105 ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
106 RULE THE WORLD Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
107 RUNAWAY Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
108 SAUNTER BOY (FR) Kris Lees
109 SCARLET DREAM Mark Newnham
110 SELF SENSE David Brideoake
111 SHRAAOH (IRE) Chris Waller
112 SIKANDARABAD (IRE) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
113 SIR CHARLES ROAD Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
114 SIXTIES GROOVE (IRE) Kris Lees
115 SOUND (GER) Michael Moroney
116 SOUTH PACIFIC (GB) Aidan O’Brien
117 SOUTHERN FRANCE (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
118 SPANISH POINT (GB) Liam Howley
119 STEEL PRINCE (IRE) Anthony Freedman
120 STELLAR IMPACT (JPN) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
121 STEPS (IRE) Liam Howley
122 STIVERS (ARG) Dermot K Weld
123 SULLY (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
124 SUPER TITUS (GB) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
125 SUPERNOVA (GB) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
126 SURPRISE BABY (NZ) Paul Preusker
127 SWEET THOMAS (GER) Matthew Smith
128 TARWIN Michael Kent
129 TAVISTOCK DANCER (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
130 TECHNICIAN (IRE) Martyn Meade
131 THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman
132 THE GOOD FIGHT (NZ) Shaune Ritchie
133 TOP OF THE RANGE (NZ) Michael Moroney
134 TORCEDOR (IRE) Andreas Wohler
135 TRANSACT Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
136 TRAP FOR FOOLSJarrod McLean
137 TRUE SELF (IRE) William Mullins
138 TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE) Joseph O’Brien
139 US ARMY RANGER (IRE) Liam Howley
140 VALAC (IRE) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
141 VERNANME (NZ) Stephen Marsh
142 VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) Chris Waller
143 VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien
144 WALL OF FIRE (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
145 WESTERN AUSTRALIA (IRE) Aidan O’Brien
146 WOLFE (JPN) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
147 WREN’S DAY (USA) James Cummings
148 YOGI (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
149 YOUNGSTAR Chris Waller
150 YUCATAN (IRE) Liam Howley
151 YULONG PRINCE (SAF) Chris Waller
152 ZACADA (NZ) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman
TOTAL ENTRIES: 152 (39 Overseas)
2018 TOTAL ENTRIES: 183 (50 Overseas)
2017 TOTAL ENTRIES: 140 (31 Overseas)
2016 TOTAL ENTRIES: 124 (31 Overseas)
2015 TOTAL ENTRIES: 140 (31 Overseas)
CAULFIELD CUP: CLICK HERE FOR NOMINATIONS