Date posted September 8, 2010 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Press Releases,
Racing and BreedingRacing Victoria have released the first declarations for the Group I BMW Caulfield Cup, Tatts Cox Plate and the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
A total of 151 horses remain in contention for the historic 150th Emirates Melbourne Cup, but not the 2007 winner Efficient, after the closure of first acceptances for the $6m Melbourne Cup (3200m), $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) and $3m Tatts Cox Plate (2040m).
It’s the fourth time in five years that the gallant grey has failed to reach the starting gates on the first Tuesday in November owing to injuries and associated delays in his preparation. The seven-year-old, who was allocated joint topweight of 58kg in this year’s Cups with imported stablemate Alandi, is one of 105 nominees not to accept for the Melbourne Cup.
Other notable withdrawals, as expected, are Japanese stayers Jaguar Mail and Meiner Kitz, Godolphin’s 2009 English St Leger winner Mastery and 2007 Cup runner-up Purple Moon who have either succumbed to injury or elected to remain in the northern hemisphere.
Locally trained trio Littorio, Shamoline Warrior and Kutchinsky have not accepted owing to injury or illness, whilst Sirmione has been reserved for shorter races over spring. The aforementioned have all been withdrawn from the Caulfield Cup on 16 October too, along with injury-plagued Predatory Pricer, 2009 runner Allez Wonder and the evergreen Zipping, who will beat a familiar spring path through the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
With first acceptors for the Melbourne Cup up from 141 in 2009 and the Caulfield Cup up from 100 to 109, the quality of contenders is exceptionally high with defending Melbourne Cup champion Shocking, Shoot Out, So You Think, Metal Bender, Monaco Consul, Alcopop, Moudre, Linton and Zabrasive heading the local entries for both events.
A strong contingent of international runners remain in contention also with representatives from France, UK, UAE, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan and Macau featuring amongst the first acceptors for Victoria’s three marquee races.
A total of 28 internationals, including Akzar and Imposing who will join the Robert Hickmott stable and Laristan who is bound for David Hayes, have paid the first declaration for the Melbourne Cup, up from 18 in each of the past two years.
Whilst global racing giant Godolphin has elected to bypass the Caulfield Cup for the first time in several years, the number of international first acceptors for the world’s richest 2400-metre turf handicap has risen from six to nine.
The internationals entered for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups are Americain (France), Tokai Trick (Japan), Mr Medici (Hong Kong), Stanstill (UK), and the Luca Cumani trained trio Becqu Adoree, Drunken Sailor and Manighar, along with Imposing (UK) and Laristan (France).
A number of high profile international entries for the Melbourne Cup, including Rite Of Passage, Profound Beauty, Sans Frontieres, Eastern Aria and Tactic, are scheduled to clash in the Group 1 Irish St Leger this Saturday night (AET) before finalising their plans.
Macau’s pin-up horse Luen Yat Forever remains the only internationally-trained entry in Australia’s weight-for-championship, the Tatts Cox Plate, with Imposing, who is currently completing his quarantine in the Werribee International Horse Centre, also accepted.
A mouth-watering line-up of locals feature amongst the 89 first acceptors for the 23 October feature at Moonee Valley including defending champion So You Think and newly crowned Sky Racing World Australian Racehorse of the Year Typhoon Tracy.
Other notable acceptors are Shoot Out, Whobegtoyou, Metal Bender, Heart Of Dreams, Linton, More Joyous and three-year-old x-factors Toorak Toff, Lion Tamer, Altius and Yosei.
First acceptances were also taken for the $1m The Age Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and the $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) with the Group 1 features to be run at Caulfield on 9 and 13 October respectively.
First acceptors for the Caulfield Guineas are up from 86 to 92 with Blue Diamond winner Star Witness the most notable omission after a minor injury setback last weekend. He’ll be reserved for sprint races later in the carnival.
Headlining the acceptors for the Caulfield Guineas, which spring boarded last year’s winner Starspangledbanner onto the world stage, is locally-trained Golden Rose winner Toorak Toff, Champagne Stakes winner Skilled, Altius, Kudakalari and Smokin’ Joey.
Owing to an injury setback Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily has been withdrawn from both Guineas, with Curtana the other notable absentee from the list of 100 first acceptors for the Thousand Guineas which showcases the sport’s elite three-year-old fillies.
Second declarations for the Caulfield Cup (PDF file - please wait), Cox Plate (PDF file - please wait ), Caulfield Guineas (PDF file - please wait) and Thousand Guineas (PDF file - please wait) close at noon on Tuesday, 21 September, with second declarations for the Melbourne Cup (PDF file - please wait) taken at noon on Tuesday, 5 October.
hoof note: The PDF files have been supplied courtesy of Racing Victoria Limited and are for personal use only, thank you.
