Melbourne Cup 2023: 72 horses remain in contention
The Melbourne Cup is likely to have a strong list of international runners after first declarations closed on Tuesday.
Five horses remain in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 7 under the care of their overseas trainers while a sixth, Lastotchka will run for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr when she arrives in Melbourne within the next fortnight.
The Willie Mullins pair of Absurde and Vauban, Japanese entrant Breakup and Lastotchka are safely in the field of 24 after the Order of Entry was released on Tuesday.
The Joseph O’Brien pair of Valiant King and Okita Soushi round out the international brigade and sit at numbers 31 and 32 respectively in the entry order.
Golden Ticket winners Lunar Flare and Goldman remain in contention as does last year’s winner, and this year’s topweight, Gold Trip.
Last year’s runner-up Emissary is almost assured of a start after jumping up the ballot order on Tuesday to number 25.
Chris Waller’s team of 14 nominations has been whittled down to eight with Francesco Guardi and Soulcombe already safely in the field.
Victoria Racing Club Executive General Manager Racing, Leigh Jordan said the quality was high across the board among the first acceptors for the Melbourne Cup.
“As they have for 30 years, the best from Ireland, the UK and Japan remain on target to tackle the finest Australian and New Zealand stayers in what amounts to the most exciting three minutes in Australian sport,” Jordon said.
“This Saturday sees the final race meeting at Flemington before the Melbourne Cup Carnival with another Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket on offer in the Bart Cummings and a host of top-class horses continuing their preparations for Australia’s greatest race week in the Turnbull Stakes.
“We can’t wait to see who will emerge as Melbourne Cup contenders over the next five weeks and the continued build up to the first Tuesday of November.”
Vauban heads the betting on the Cup at $4.50 with Dabble ahead of Just Fine and Soulcombe at $8.
More Racing News
Rivellino races into Inglis Millennium contention
Next month’s $2 million Inglis Millennium is on the radar for Rivellino after the two-year-old colt made an impressive start to his career with a victory at Randwick. A $180,000 yearling purchase at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale last year, the Kris Lees-trained Rivellino stepped out for his debut in Saturday’s...
Accredited wins again at Randwick
Progressive galloper Accredited has continued his winning run this summer with another Randwick victory. The Joe Pride -trained five-year-old began his current campaign with a runner-up finish in a 1200m benchmark-72 at Canterbury in November and then since the start of December the gelding has pieced together three-straight wins, including two at Randwick. Off the...
Cherish Me presses G1 Blue Diamond Stakes claims
Cherish Me will be given the chance to take up the guaranteed berth in this year’s Blue Diamond Stakes she earned herself via her impressive debut win at Geelong on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained daughter of Brazen Beau launched her career in style, sweeping past her rivals in the straight to take...
Holymanz strikes again at Geelong
Holymanz affirmed his liking for the new early-year feature raceday at Geelong when he won the meeting’s headline act, the Coastal Classic, for the season year in a row on Saturday. Twelve months after winning the inaugural running of the $300,000 event, the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding scored a narrow-but-impressive win in...
Romantic Choice placement reaps Stakes reward
Tom Dabernig had to deal with seeing Cleo Cat beaten for the first time in Saturday’s Black Pearl Stakes at Geelong, but the Listed event was still a triumph for the Warrnambool horseman. Tough mare Romantic Choice brought up her maiden Stakes success in the $200,000 event. Romantic Choice had her first taste of Stakes...
Track issues see Gold Coast Magic Millions features moved to Sunshine Coast
Saturday’s significant lead-up meeting to the feature Magic Millions race day on January 11 has been moved from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast. The twilight card which includes the first running of Queensland’s new slot race, the $3 million The Sunlight, was to occur as a prelude to the rich traditional...
Trainer Gavin Bedggood treks north with Pioneer River
Gavin Bedggood will look back fondly on 2024, a year when he graduated to become a Group 1 trainer, and he will be out to tick off another milestone early in the new year. The Cranbourne horseman will chase his first win in Sydney when Pioneer River contests Saturday’s $160,000 Precise Air Handicap...
Loch Eagle eyes back-to-back wins in The Wave at Gold Coast
Kris Lees went a long time wondering where Loch Eagle’s next win was going to come, but the Newcastle trainer is optimistic he won’t have to wait as long for his next success. The six-year-old gelding is favourite for Saturday’s $500,000 The Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast. The son of Lonhro heads...
Holymanz chases another Coastal Classic win at Geelong
Holymanz has not won since last year’s Coastal Classic and the Ciaron Maher stable is confident the race can again bring out the best in the gelding. The son of Almanzor will defend his title against six rivals in Saturday’s $300,000 event over the Geelong 1700-metre circuit. Despite not having won in 10 starts...
Clinton McDonald mourns Blue Diamond Stakes winner Hayasugi
The Clinton Mcdonald stable is mourning the loss of history-defying filly Hayasugi, who succumbed to complications from surgery. McDonald on Thursday announced that last year’s Blue Diamond winner had been euthanized owing to issues stemming from the hoof injury that prematurely ended her spring campaign. “It is with great sadness that we announce...
