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.
Melbourne Cup First Declarations
| Horse | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOLDMAN (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 1 | 52kg |
| 2 | LUNAR FLARE | Grahame Begg | 2 | 51.5kg |
| 3 | ABSURDE (FR) | Willie Mullins | 3 | 53kg |
| 4 | GOLD TRIP (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 4 | 58.5kg |
| 5 | ALENQUER (FR) | Michael Moroney | 5 | 56.5kg |
| 6 | EL BODEGON (IRE) | Chris Waller | 6 | 55.5kg |
| 7 | WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 7 | 55.5kg |
| 8 | SPANISH MISSION (USA) | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 8 | 55.5kg |
| 9 | BREAKUP (JPN) | Tatsuya Yoshioka | 9 | 55kg |
| 10 | VAUBAN (FR) | Willie Mullins | 10 | 55kg |
| 11 | MAJOR BEEL (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 11 | 53kg |
| 12 | KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 12 | 54kg |
| 13 | FRANCESCO GUARDI (IRE) | Chris Waller | 13 | 54kg |
| 14 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 14 | 54kg |
| 15 | SOULCOMBE (GB) | Chris Waller | 15 | 53.5kg |
| 16 | HOO YA MAL (GB) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 16 | 53kg |
| 17 | VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O’Brien | 17 | 53kg |
| 18 | JUST FINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 18 | 53kg |
| 19 | RIGHT YOU ARE | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 19 | 53kg |
| 20 | DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 20 | 53kg |
| 21 | MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) | Chris Waller | 21 | 51kg |
| 22 | VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) | Liam Howley | 22 | 51kg |
| 23 | LASTOTCHKA (FR) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 23 | 51kg |
| 24 | FAME | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 24 | 51kg |
| 25 | EMISSARY (GB) | Michael Moroney | 25 | 52kg |
| 26 | HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 26 | 50kg |
| 27 | EL PATRONESS | Danny O’Brien | 27 | 50kg |
| 28 | SHERAZ (FR) | Chris Waller | 28 | 51.5kg |
| 29 | DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ) | Phillip Stokes | 29 | 51.5kg |
| 30 | CLEVELAND (IRE) | Kris Lees | 30 | 51.5kg |
| 31 | VALIANT KING (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | 31 | 50kg |
| 32 | OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 32 | 51.5kg |
| 33 | BENAUD | John O’Shea | 33 | 51kg |
| 34 | KING FRANKEL (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | 34 | 51kg |
| 35 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 35 | 51kg |
| 36 | MILITARY MISSION (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 36 | 50.5kg |
| 37 | SCRIPTWRITER (IRE) | Chris Waller | 37 | 50.5kg |
| 38 | HOSIER (IRE) | Mark Minervini | 38 | 50.5kg |
| 39 | TRUE MARVEL (FR) | Matthew Smith | 39 | 50kg |
| 40 | MOUNT POPA (IRE) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 40 | 50kg |
| 41 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea | 41 | 50kg |
| 42 | ALASKAN GOD | Daniel Morton | 42 | 50kg |
| 43 | REBEL RACER | Amy & Ash Yargi | 43 | 50kg |
| 44 | HASTA LA WAR | Sue Murphy | 44 | 50kg |
| 45 | STAFFORD’S LAD | Daniel Morton | 45 | 50kg |
| 46 | KALAPOUR (IRE) | Kris Lees | 46 | 50kg |
| 47 | UNITED NATIONS (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 47 | 50kg |
| 48 | INTERPRETATION (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 48 | 50kg |
| 49 | LADIES MAN (NZ) | Allan Sharrock | 49 | 50kg |
| 50 | RAGING BULL | Mark Minervini | 50 | 50kg |
| 51 | AMADE (IRE) | Phillip Stokes | 51 | 50kg |
| 52 | FANCY MAN (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | 52 | 50kg |
| 53 | SIR LUCAN (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 53 | 50kg |
| 54 | PROTAGONIST (FR) | Kris Lees | 54= | 52kg |
| 55 | UNCLE BRYN (GB) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 54= | 52kg |
| 56 | ASHRUN (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 56= | 51.5kg |
| 57 | BANK MAUR | Richard Laming | 56= | 50kg |
| 58 | BERKELEY SQUARE | Dan O’Sullivan | 56= | 50kg |
| 59 | BRAYDEN STAR (GB) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 59= | 50kg |
| 60 | CARINI (FR) | Danny O’Brien | 59= | 50kg |
| 61 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | Michael Kent | 59= | 50kg |
| 62 | FERAGO | Patrick F Ryan Jnr | 59= | 50kg |
| 63 | FIRST IMMORTAL | Mark & Levi Kavanagh | 59= | 50kg |
| 64 | FOREIGN RAIDER | John Sadler | 59= | 50kg |
| 65 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 59= | 50kg |
| 66 | GREGOLIMO (FR) | Michael Moroney | 59= | 50kg |
| 67 | MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 59= | 50kg |
| 68 | MR WATERVILLE (IRE) | Chris Waller | 59= | 50kg |
| 69 | PESTO (GB) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 59= | 50kg |
| 70 | SHAIYHAR (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 59= | 50kg |
| 71 | THE MAP | Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray | 59= | 50kg |
| 72 | MEDATSU (NZ) | Chris Waller | 59= | 49kg |