25 International Gallopers Still In Cup

Saturday, 25 July 0409 00:00

A strong international contingent is set to descend on Melbourne this spring with 25 overseas horses still on track for a tilt at the $4 million Melbourne Cup after first declarations were taken.

Media Puzzle, who gave trainer Dermot Weld his second Melbourne Cup two years ago following the 1993 victory by Vintage Crop, is among three remaining entries for the Irish trainer, along with Vinnie Roe and Maharib.

Compatriot Aidan O'Brien also has three nominations while Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer for the powerful Godolphin operation, has last year's favourite Mamool among his five remaining entries.

First declarations were also received for the Caulfield Cup on October 16 and Cox Plate on October 23 and while international interest in both was again strong, Northerly was a notable absentee from Caulfield Cup entries.

Last year's Melbourne Cup runner-up She's Archie, who was at 25-1 with TAB Fixed odds before Tuesday, was also missing from the $2 million race.

Lady Herries created history when she won the 1998 Caulfield Cup with Taufan's Melody and remains on track for another shot at the spoils with her five-year-old Wunderwood among the declarations.

Racing Victoria's director of equine business development, Mark Player, was delighted with the overseas interest in Melbourne's premier spring races and believes there is plenty of quality among them.

"There are eleven left in the Caulfield Cup, eleven in the Cox Plate and twenty-five in the Melbourne Cup," Player said.

"They're very strong numbers with fantastic depth."

Player said the fact O'Brien still had Powerscourt, Brian Boru and Excalibur in the Melbourne Cup mix showed he was seriously considering starts, while he believes Weld is hungry for further spring riches.

"I've spoken to Dermot Weld and it's fair to say his interest in winning a third Melbourne Cup is very high and I'm sure he would also like to be the first overseas trainer to win the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double," Player said.

A total of 168 horses remain on track for the Melbourne Cup and 135 for the Caulfield Cup while the number of Cox Plate contenders more than halved to 79.

Among those missing were Dance Hero, who has been spelled and will miss the spring, Ming Dynasty Quality winner Dane Shadow and Bart Cummings' stablemates Strasbourg and November Dreaming.

TAB Fixed Odds' Glenn Munsie said the release of first declarations had little impact on markets, although some of the international entries had tightened slightly in betting.

"When the international horses are left in at this stage the trainers usually have some intention of going (to Australia)," Munsie said.