International Raiders Target Three Majors

The Age

Wednesday September 10, 2008

Andrew Eddy, With AAP

INTERNATIONAL horses could contest all three major spring races in Melbourne for the first time since 2005 following a positive overseas response yesterday to the first declarations for the feature races.

A total of 19 internationally-trained horses remained in the Caulfield and Melbourne cups as well as the Cox Plate after first declarations closed yesterday, but the depth of the overseas invasion cannot be properly gauged until after this weekend.

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien is expected to decide on Friday if he will send any of his six Melbourne Cup entries after he meets with Australian quarantine officers over regulations that came into force this year.

Then, on Saturday, the Irish and English St Legers are run, featuring a number of the cups and Cox Plate entries. The trip to Australia is the logical next step for those who run well.

Racing Victoria Ltd's racing operations manager, Leigh Jordon, said yesterday he was hopeful that two internationals would run in the Caulfield Cup, one in the Cox Plate and, depending on O'Brien's decision, as many as five in the Melbourne Cup.

"At this stage it appears Luca Cumani's stayer Mad Rush and Godolphin's All The Good will start in the Caulfield Cup while Jane Chapple-Hyam's horse Traffic Guard booked himself a place in the Cox Plate field with his second placing in the Irish Champion Stakes," Jordon said.

"As for the Melbourne Cup, we could have as many as five or six, depending on what Aidan does. Mad Rush might be joined by stablemate Bauer, who will come through the Geelong Cup, while Godolphin have Folk Opera and Schiaparelli, who could join All The Good in the Melbourne Cup.

Outstanding mare Gallant Tess lowered the colours of Triple Honour in yesterday's Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick to claim her second group 2 victory, prompting her trainer David Payne to turn his thoughts to the Cox Plate.

Glen Boss had Triple Honour ($1.60 favourite) fourth in the five-horse field tracking Gallant Tess ($4) all the way but the Doncaster Handicap winner was no match for the mare in the straight and she went on to score by a length with Kishkat ($5.50) another half-neck away third.

"She is a terrific mare and it's a great thrill to win this race again," Payne said. "The main aim is the Myer Classic at Flemington but who knows, maybe the Cox Plate."

Trainer Kris Lees yesterday paid the $2000 first acceptance fee to keep Samantha Miss in the Cox Plate and just a few hours later it looked like money well spent when the filly annihilated her rivals in the Furious Stakes at Randwick.

Rounding the home turn, Hugh Bowman brought Samantha Miss ($2.20 favourite) wide and she pounced in the straight, putting paid to the rest of the field in a few bounds. -- With AAP

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