Melbourne Cup 2016: Frustrated internationals won’t settle for second prize in famous race

TAB MARKETS: Among this year’s foreign legion are some familiar faces and amazingly between they have run second in six Melbourne Cups, but never gone one better.

THEY been frustratingly close so many times but this year there is a determination not to leave without the Melbourne Cup.

The international raiders are here in force and could make up half the field for next Tuesday’s big race.

Among the foreign legion are some familiar faces — the Godolphin team is back, so is the Cumani and Ireland’s Willie Mullins. Between they have run second in six Melbourne Cups.

SECOND DECLARATIONS: LOGJAM IN RACE TO GAIN CUP BERTH

Then there is Aidan O’Brien, the Irish maestro, who’s record in the Australia’s great race doesn’t reflect his standing as the world’s best trainer.

Add to this mix England’s Michael Bell, canny Irishman Tony Martin and Japan’s Osamu Hirata and the overseas runners are a formidable force in a year when the hometown defence doesn’t appear overly strong.

At Werribee trackwork on Monday, the 11 overseas stayers still in Melbourne Cup contention when through their paces, impressing Racing Victoria’s international equine recruiter, Leigh Jordon.

“The Melbourne Cup (likely field) is not a stellar year compared to previous years,’’ Jordon said.

“But the overall quality of the overseas runners is right up there. I would say there are a good three or four that could win the race.’’

Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin stable has been trying for 20 years to win the great race, coming frustratingly close with second placings from Central Park (1999), Give The Slip (2001) and Central Park (2009) but Jordon believes this could be their year as up to seven “Blue Army” stayers are still in the race.

Ethereal runs down Give The Slip in the 2001 edition of the famous race.

England’s Charlie Appleby has three of Godolphin’s potential Cup runners in Scottish, Qewy and Oceanographer, Saeed Bin Suroor has returned with Beautiful Romance and Secret Number, and Sydney’s John O’Shea has the race favourite Hartnell and Tally.

“They are going into the race with a massive team,’’ Jordon said. “They might not get a better opportunity with their overseas horses plus Hartnell.’’

Jordon said the O’Brien-trained Bondi Beach is a physically more imposing horse than the one which ran well back in the Melbourne Cup 12 months ago, while also nominating Wicklow Brave and Big Orange as genuine chances.

Mullins prepared luckless runner-up Max Dynamite in last year’s Cup and is returning with Wicklow Brave this spring.

“There is no doubt Willie Mullins has got it in his head he will win this race,’’ Jordon said. “I think he know what it takes to win the Cup.’’

Mullins is due to arrive in Melbourne later this week but his stable representative David Casey said former hurdler Wicklow Brave is progressing well towards next week’s big race.

“Wicklow Brave is probably a sharper type of horse to Max Dynamite,’’ Casey said.

“I don’t know if it is confidence but we do have an expectation that he will run a good race as his form is standing up.

“He was just behind Big Orange in the Goodwood Cup and we think he is better than he was that day. He showed that in (winning) the Irish St Leger.’’

Bauer is just edged out by the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed (rails) in the 2008 Cup. Picture: AFP

Sara Cumani and her trainer-husband Luca have come agonisingly close to Melbourne Cup glory with second placegetters Purple Moon (2006) and Bauer (2008) and hope their son, Matt, can finally end the family’s run of near-missed with Grey Lion.

“This horse has never put a foot wrong since he has came to us about three weeks before he went into quarantine in England,’’ Mrs Cumani said.

“He is a lovely character to deal with, you could not ask for more. He travelled beautifully on a long, arduous flight, didn’t lose any weight then came out and ran a tremendous race at Geelong (second to Qewy).

“Grey Lion is like a machine, he does everything you ask him to do.’’

Big Orange has repeated his wins in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Goodwood Cup from last year and that form was good enough to run fifth in the Melbourne Cup behind Prince Of Penzance. He returns a stronger and more mature stayer spring.

The Matt Cumani-trained Grey Lion heads back to his Werribee stable. Picture: Mark Stewart

“It was his first time away from home last year but this year he seems to know where he is this time and is settling in really well,’’ said Gillian Tolman for the Bell stable.

“He likes firm ground and we are praying for no more rain.’’

Jordon said Heartbreak City’s trainer Tony Martin is a highly regarded horseman and his stayer’s Ebor Handicap-winning form is an excellent Melbourne Cup form reference.

Japan’s Curren Mirotic, who was sporting a bright, orange bridle, reins and bandages during an impressive track gallop on Monday, needs to create Cup history as no nine-year-old has ever won a Melbourne Cup.

“We are aware that a nine-year-old has never won this race but we will give it a try,’’ said track rider Kosi Kawakami.

“Curren Mirotic’s form can be a bit in and out but if he can run up to his Tenno Sho Spring effort then he should run a good race,’’ he said.

The sand flies as Melbourne Cup contender Wicklow Brave enjoys a roll after a trackwork session at Werribee. Picture: Ian Currie

FLEMINGTON MARKETS

COOLMORE STUD STAKES

1200m, Saturday

$3.50 Astern

$3.50 Extreme Choice

$4.20 Star Turn

$6 Russian Revolution

$7 Flying Artie

$11 Capitalist

$21 Derryn

$31+ others

MYER CLASSIC

1600m, Saturday

$4.40 First Seal

$5 Don’t Doubt Mamma

$6.50 Dixie Blossoms, Whispering Brook

$7.50 Heavens Above

$9 Danish Twist, Rising Romance

$13+ others

CANTALA MILE

1600m, Saturday

$4.50 The United States

$6 Seaburge

$7 He’s Our Rokkii, Palentino, Mackintosh

$11 Hey Doc, Le Romain, McCreery, Vadamos, Voodoo Lad

$15+ others

Sacred Elixir (left) puts in a powerful performance to win the Super Vase on Saturday. Picture: AAP

VICTORIA DERBY

2500m, Saturday

$3.20 Sacred Elixir

$7 So Si Bon

$8 Good Standing

$9 Rocketeer

$10 Inference

$11 Prized Icon, Swear

$13+ others

WAKEFUL STAKES

2000m, Saturday

$3 Tiamo Grace

$4.20 Sebring Dream

$6 Pretty Punk

$6.50 Missrock

$8.50 Bella Sorellastra

$13 Waterloo Sunset

$17 Alliterate

$21+ others

MELBOURNE CUP

3200m, next Tuesday

$4.60 Hartnell

$6 Jameka

$10 Almandin

$13 Bondi Beach

$14 Heartbreak City

$15 Big Orange, Exospheric, Scottish

$17 Almoonqith, Wicklow Brave

$21 Curren Mirotic, Grand Marshal, Who Shot Thebarman

$26 Oceanographer, Our Ivanhowe, Qewy

$35 Beautiful Romance, Grey Lion, Real Love, Secret Number, Sir John Hawkwood, Tally

$51 Assign, Excess Knowledge, Gallante, Howard Be Thy Name, Pentathlon

$101 others

Odds: TAB

Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2016: Frustrated internationals won’t settle for second prize in famous race