Blow for foreign raiders

TOUGHER import rules and travel difficulties have led to limited international hopes in both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup.

First acceptances for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate featured a total of three overseas-trained runners for the rich races.

A field of 109 hopefuls remain in the Caulfield Cup after Tuesday’s first acceptances while 79 horses accepted for the Cox Plate.

Two international entries, the David Simcock-trained Rodrigo Diaz and Andrew Balding’s Spanish Mission, remain in the Caulfield Cup.

Joseph O’Brien’s runner State Of Rest is the sole overseas-trained acceptor for the Cox Plate.

But syndicators Australian Bloodstock conceded Rodrigo Diaz would not be able to travel to Melbourne in time to run in the Caulfield Cup.

Australian Bloodstock cofounder Jamie Lovett told RSN there were no flights available for the horse and Simcock’s travelling staff to get to Australia with enough time to complete quarantine requirements for the Caulfield Cup.

International runners will arrive in Melbourne on two flights. The first will arrive in Melbourne on September 25, with another landing on Caulfield Guineas day (October 9).

Only horses that arrive on the first flight would complete quarantine in time to run in the Caulfield Cup.