The Melbourne Racing Club has received 222 nominations for this year’s Caulfield Cup, headlined by a strong international entry.
When nominations for the 2400m handicap closed on Tuesday, overseas horses to figure prominently included Americain and Dunaden, the past two Melbourne Cup winners.
Last year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux has also been entered among 25 internationals.
“The international contingent is particularly exciting, providing further weight to the Caulfield Cup as a stand alone international feature,” MRC chief executive Alasdair Robertson said.
There have been 18 overseas-trained horses entered for the W S Cox Plate with Americain, Planteur and Reliable Man considered key nominations.
As expected, glamour Australian racemares Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen and More Joyous are among the 155 nominations for Australasia’s weight-for-age championship.
The unbeaten Golden Slipper winner Pierro and Black Caviar’s younger sibling All Too Hard spearhead entries from this season’s crop of three-year-olds.
The $2.65 million Caulfield Cup will be run on October 20 with the Cox Plate run at Moonee Valley on October 27.
