The 2015 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups could both feature a record number of internationally-trained starters following the latest round of acceptances.
Five internationally-trained horses feature among 38 third acceptors for the $3.15 million Caulfield Cup to be run on Saturday week.
The 2011 and 2012 Caulfield Cups both featured four internationally-trained starters with the latter won by French star Dunaden.
A total of 15 internationally-trained horses were among today’s first acceptors for the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup, with 12 of those inside the top 28 in the Order of Entry.
Dunaden led home a record 11 internationally-trained starters when he won the 2011 Melbourne Cup.
The only withdrawals inside the top 40 contenders for the Melbourne Cup, to be run at Flemington on November 3, were internationals Fields of Athenry (Aidan O’Brien) and Wicklow Brave (Willie Mullins) who will not be joining their highly fancied stablemates in Melbourne.
Third acceptances were also taken today for the $3.05 million WS Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on 24 October, with three internationally-trained horses remaining in contention – the same as contested the 2005 and 2014 Cox Plates.
They are Arod (England), Gailo Chop (France) and Highland Reel (Ireland).
First acceptances were also taken today for the $1 million William Hill Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley the night prior to the Cox Plate, while second acceptances closed for the $500,000 Caulfield Classic (2000m) for three-year-olds on Caulfield Cup Day.
$3.15 million BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m), Caulfield, 17 October
English star Snow Sky and reigning Melbourne Cup champion Protectionist – the equal topweights on 58kg – feature among the third acceptances meaning it is unlikely that weights will need to be raised as they were 12 months ago.
Joining Snow Sky in the international contingent are Japanese stars Fame Game and Hokko Brave, Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris and Northumberland Plate winner Quest For More.
All bar Quest For More are guaranteed a start, with the Roger Charlton-trained English stayer currently 20th in Order of Entry which would see him slated second emergency if the race was run today.
The notable withdrawals are Godolphin pair Contributer and Hartnell, and Friday’s Stocks Stakes winner Fenway. The trio are third acceptors for the Cox Plate only while Irish stayer Max Dynamite, who is in training at the Werribee International Horse Centre, has been reserved for the Melbourne Cup.
Godolphin has kept three horses in the Caulfield Cup in Hauraki, Complacent and Magic Hurricane, while Chris Waller has paid up for Preferment, Royal Descent, Who Shot Thebarman, Grand Marshal and Beaten Up.
A total of 82 horses remain in contention for a Melbourne Cup start including the first three placegetters from the 2014 edition – Protectionist, Red Cadeaux and Who Shot Thebarman.
Included among the 15 internationally-trained acceptors are a trio of Aidan O’Brien-trained Order Of St George, Bondi Beach and Kingfisher. They are scheduled to arrive in Melbourne this Saturday.
O’Brien’s is one of nine stables with multiple acceptors inside the top 40. The others are David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, John O’Shea, Ed Dunlop, Chris Waller, Darren Weir, Gai Waterhouse, Saeed bin Suroor and Lee and Anthony Freedman.
There are 36 third acceptors for the Cox Plate on October 24.
Chris Waller has a race-high six acceptors including Kermadec, Winx and Caulfield Guineas favourite Press Statement who is one of four three-year-olds who remain in the Cox Plate.
Fellow Caulfield Guineas contenders Last Bullet and Odyssey Moon and Thousand Guineas contender Jameka round out the three-year-old contenders.
Notable withdrawals are Melbourne Cup champion Protectionist, New Zealand star Volkstok’n’barrell, Dandino, the injured Alpine Eagle and retiring Foreteller.
