Cup all the better for international flavour

GAI Waterhouse has defended the internationalisation of the Melbourne Cup with almost a dozen Werribee-based raiders laying siege to Australia’s most famous race after second acceptances.

From an original pool of more than 180 horses, 47 remain in contention for next week’s $7.3million race – with 14 internationals occupying the top 29 places.

Of those, 11 internationals are guaranteed starts – and there are eight raiders, including $4.50 favourite Yucatan, in the top 10 in betting.

“It’s thrown Australian racing into the complete and utter

‘‘ IT’S THROWN AUSTRALIAN RACING INTO THE COMPLETE AND UTTER FOREFRONT OF ATTENTION IN THE WORLD STAGE

forefront of attention in the world stage of horses,” said Waterhouse, who trained import Fiorente to victory in 2013.

“Back almost 30 years ago, it was an Australian race. It’s not an Australian race, it’s an international race.

“It’s one of the few handicaps in the world that is recognised as a serious race. It is a wonderful, wonderful thing.”

Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott could have three runners in the Cup – Geelong Cup winner Runaway, Northwest Passage and VRC Derby contender Thinkin’ Big.

Saturday’s Lexus Handicap offers ballot-free status to the winner into the Cup ahead of final acceptances.

Caulfield Cup winner Best Solution and Herbert Power Stakes victor Yucatan highlight the international contingent as Lindsay Park’s Ventura Storm escaped a penalty for Moonee Valley Gold Cup victory..

Included among the 11 internationals currently inside the top 24 is Andrew Baldingtrained Duretto, who will undergo an examination at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre today to determine his suitability to be a final acceptor.

Aidan O’Brien has also accepted with Caulfield Cup placegetter The Cliffsofmoher and northern hemisphere threeyear-old Rostropovich, who debuted in the Cox Plate on Saturday, but has elected to withdraw Our Idaho.

Other notable withdrawals were Cox Plate placegetter Humidor, Caulfield Cup runner-up Homesman, injured Kings Will Dream and a trio of horses unplaced in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup – The Taj Mahal, Egg Tart and Big Duke.

GAI WATERHOUSE