Overseas raiders eye Cup

A FOREIGN grip is firmly clamped around Australia’s greatest race in 2012 with international runners set to dominate the Melbourne Cup like never before.

More than 60 foreign-bred horses are among the entries that closed yesterday, with 23 o f them nominated f r o m abroad.

The good news, if there is any for the Melbourne Cup traditionalists, is that many of the raiders are being brought to Melbourne by their Australian owners.

But for those born and bred in Australia, and even New Zealand, the chances of winning the world’s biggest prize for a handicap race look slim. Connections of 151 horses paid the initial $1320 entry fee for the $6.2 million race run at Flemington on November 6.

‘‘The international entry we’ve received really stamps the Melbourne Cup as the stayi ng championship o f t he world,’’ said Racing Victoria’s Leigh Jordon, whose job is to scout the world for prospective runners.

While the number of foreigntrained runners is two fewer than last year, a further 43 imported horses who are already in Australian stables are entered for the Cup.

Among the nominations are three previous winners, altho u g h o n l y o n e o f t h e m, Efficient, is an Aussie.

It is expected last year’s winner Dunaden will return from France, as will 2010 victor Americain, one of the locally owned foreigners.