Raiders roll up en masse

RACING A RECORD 12 international contenders could lay siege to Caulfield’s feature race riches on Saturday as a powerful Northern Hemisphere contingent flexes its muscle.

The Werribee-based visitors hold an unprecedented 15 entries for the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes and Toorak Handicap, the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes and the listed Weekend Hussler Stakes.

Further emphasising a growing trend of targeting quality races outside of the three majors – the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup – the raiders will leave quarantine at the first opportunity to chase Australian prize money.

When entries closed for the blockbuster Caulfield meeting, nominations had been lodged from six international stables.

There were no internationals at the last year’s corresponding meeting, which has previously been contested by only a handful of visitors.

Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby, who dominated last spring with wins in the Sandown, Geelong and Bendigo cups and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, could have as many as four runners.

Qewy and Francis Of Assisi, who both starred in Victoria last year, are entered in the Herbert Power along with stablemate Kidmenever and Hugo Palmer’s Wall Of Fire.

Appleby also holds Caulfield Stakes and Toorak entries for Folkswood, who is also under consideration for a start in Sunday’s Cranbourne Cup.

Willie Mullins has dual nominations for Riven Light but the import is likely to contest the Caulfield Stakes instead of the Toorak after Glen Boss was secured for the ride.

Jane Chapple-Hyam has entered Kaspersky in the Toorak, while Aidan O’Brien’s Johannes Vermeer and Taj Mahal are slated to clash in the Caulfield Stakes.

Craig Williams will return to Werribee today to give Japanese veteran Admire Deus another gallop while Hugh Bowman will work Tiberian.