International raiders enter quarantine ahead of spring

A strong international contingent, featuring seven UK horses and two from Japan, has entered pre-export quarantine in preparation for the Melbourne spring racing carnival.

Japanese hopes include Cox Plate-bound Prognosis and Warp Speed, who is nominated for both the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup and boasts strong form behind Japanese stayer T O Roya.

UK challengers feature some familiar names, like Docklands (OTI) and Kitty Rose (Price and Kent Jnr). Newcomers include Wootten Verni, a late Cox Plate nominee set to join Chris Waller’s stable, and Onesmoothoperator (Brian Ellison), a Cups contender known for his prowess on all-weather tracks.

Other UK hopefuls, like Birdman and Sea King (Harry Eustace), are also targeting various Australian races.

Racing Victoria will reveal the weights for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups on Tuesday, setting the stage for a thrilling spring campaign.