The international contingent for this year’s spring carnival has been confirmed following much speculation.
Unfortunately a few big guns will be absent (namely Order Of St George and Highland Reel) but the likes of Big Orange, Bondi Beach and Wicklow Brave are certainly not without legitimate Melbourne Cup claims.
Here is a look at the raiders and what races they’ll be targeted at.
WICKLOW BRAVE
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Willie Mullins (Ireland)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($17)
Note: Connections will be buoyed by the fact Order Of St George finished 3rd in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over the weekend after chasing home Wicklow Brave in the G1 Irish St Leger (2816m). The form suddenly looks even stronger.
VADAMOS (FRA)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Andre Fabre (France)
Nominated for: Cox Plate ($17)
Note: Photo below shows a pretty relaxed-looking Vadamos arriving in Melbourne on Saturday.
SCOTTISH (IRE)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Charlie Appleby (UK)
Nominated for: Caulfield Cup ($11), Cox Plate ($51), Melbourne Cup ($26) – Caulfield Cup the main target.
Note: Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been confirmed for the Caulfield Cup ride.
FRANCIS OF ASSISI (IRE)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Charlie Appleby (UK)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($67). Set to contest the Bendigo Cup and will need to run well enough to earn a weight penalty to sneak into the Melbourne Cup field.
Note: Currently =39th in the order of entry for the Cup (50kg).
SECOND WAVE (IRE)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Charlie Appleby (UK)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($51). Set to run in the Geelong Cup and will need to run well enough to earn a weight penalty to sneak into the Melbourne Cup field.
Note: Currently =39th in the order of entry for the Cup (50kg).
QEWY (IRE)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Charlie Appleby (UK)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($101). Will run in either the Geelong Cup or the Bendigo Cup
Note: Currently =39th in the order of entry for the Cup (50kg).
OCEANOGRAPHER (GB)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Charlie Appleby (UK)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($41). Set to run in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Cox Plate day (the race Prince Of Penzance finished runner-up in last year).
Note: Currently =39th in the order of entry for the Cup (50kg).
ARTICUS (FR)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Andreas Wohler (Germany)
Nominated for: Caulfield Cup ($17)
Note: Has jumped to number 20 in the Caulfield Cup order of entry (52.5kg).
EXOSPHERE (GB)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Lee & Anthony Freedman (Australia)
Nominated for: Caulfield Cup ($11), Melbourne Cup ($21)
Note: In the Caulfield Cup field with 55kg.
ENDLESS DRAMA (IRE)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Chris Waller (Australia)
Nominated for: Nothing
Note: Miler who has joined the Chris Waller yard.
KINEMA (IRE)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Chris Waller (Australia)
Nominated for: Nothing
Note: Was $101 for the Melbourne Cup but is absent from the latest list of acceptances.
GREY LION (IRE)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Matt Cumani (Australia)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($101)
Note: OTI import who has joined the Matt Cumani yard. Currently number 30 in the order of entry for the Cup (51kg).
SIR ISAAC NEWTON (IRE)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien (Ireland)
Nominated for: Caulfield Cup ($11), Cox Plate ($34)
Note: Has been chasing home high-class stablemate Highland Reel in recent starts. In the Caulfield Cup field with 54.5kg.
GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (FR)
Status: In Australia
Trainer: Darren Weir (Australia)
Nominated for: Nothing
Note: Lightly-raced French galloper recently purchased by OTI.
BIG ORANGE (GB)
Status: In quarantine – set to arrive in Australia on October 15.
Trainer: Michael Bell (UK)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($15)
Note: In the Cup field with 56kg. Finished 5th in last year’s event with 55.5kg.
BONDI BEACH (IRE)
Status: In quarantine – set to arrive in Australia on October 15.
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien (Ireland)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($15)
Note: In the Cup field with 55kg. Finished an unlucky 16th in last year’s event carrying 52.5kg.
HEARTBREAK CITY (FR)
Status: In quarantine – set to arrive in Australia on October 15.
Trainer: Tony Martin (Ireland)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($17)
Note: Recently purchased by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock (Jakkalberry 3rd in 2012 and Dandino 5th in 2013). Currently 22nd in the order of entry (53kg).
BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE (GB)
Status: In quarantine – set to arrive in Australia on October 15.
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor (UK)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($34)
Note: Currently 24th in the order of entry for the Cup (51.5kg).
SECRET NUMBER (GB)
Status: In quarantine – set to arrive in Australia on October 15.
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor (UK)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($26)
Note: Currently 29th in the order of entry for the Cup (51kg). Has only had one run since finishing 2nd to Dandino in the G3 Queen Elizabeth during the 2015 spring carnival.
AROD (IRE)
Status: In quarantine – set to arrive in Australia on October 15.
Trainer: Peter Chapple-Hyam (UK)
Nominated for: Nothing
Note: Ruled out of the Cox Plate. Won’t complete post-arrival quarantine until October 31 so the Emirates Stakes on November 5 looms as a possible option.
CURREN MIROTIC (JPN)
Status: In quarantine – set to arrive in Australia on October 17.
Trainer: Osamu Hirata (JPN)
Nominated for: Melbourne Cup ($21)
Note: In the Melbourne Cup field with 55.5kg.
CURREN GLASS JAW (JPN)
Status: In quarantine – set to arrive in Australia on October 17.
Trainer: Osamu Hirata (JPN)
Nominated for: Nothing
Note: Travel companion for Curren Mirotic.
