Gai backs world status
TRAINER 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 $7.3 million 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 Ire, in the top 10 of Ladbrokes Melbourne Cup betting.
Waterhouse, who trained the Gold Coast-owned import Fiorente to victory in 2013, was unfazed.
“It’s thrown Australian racing into the complete and utter forefront of attention in the world stage of horses,” said Waterhouse.
“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 thing.” Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott could have three runners in the Melbourne 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 – now called Yucatan Ire – highlight the international push as Lindsay Park’s Ventura Storm escaped a penalty for victory in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Included among the 11 internationals currently inside the top 24 is the Andrew Balding-trained Duretto who will undergo an examination at a Melbourne equine centre today to determine his suitability to be a final acceptor.
Irish trainer 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 Humidor, Homesman, Kings Will Dream, The Taj Mahal, Egg Tart and Big Duke.
With the withdrawals, Runaway is tantalisingly close to a guaranteed start, moving to 23rd in the order