Last year’s Melbourne Cup third placegetter Okita Soushi has been withdrawn from this year’s race, joining a host of notable omissions at Tuesday’s first declaration stage.
The $10 million feature has been reduced from 119 entries to 66, with 11 of those trained overseas and already in quarantine or awaiting transport to Melbourne ahead of the November 4 Cup.
Okita Soushi had been earmarked for a spring campaign but has managed just one run and a trial this preparation, while star mare Treasurethe Moment, last season’s VRC and ATC Oaks winner, has also bowed out following an interrupted lead-up.
Reigning Horse of the Year and Cox Plate champion Via Sistina remains among the entries but is considered doubtful.
Defending Cup winner Knight’s Choice is another absentee as he continues to recover from illness.
Second declarations are due on October 14.
| Number | Horse Name (Country) | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Absurde (FR) | Willie Mullins |
| 2 | Adelaide River (IRE) | Kris Lees |
| 3 | Aeliana (NZ) | Chris Waller |
| 4 | Al Riffa (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 5 | Arapaho (FR) | Bjorn Baker |
| 6 | Asterix (NZ) | Chris Waller |
| 7 | Athabascan (FR) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 8 | Birdman (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 9 | Brayden Star (GB) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 10 | Buckaroo (GB) | Chris Waller |
| 11 | Bur Dubai (GB) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
| 12 | Changingoftheguard (IRE) | Kris Lees |
| 13 | Chevalier Rose (JPN) | Hisashi Shimizu |
| 14 | Cleveland (IRE) | Kris Lees |
| 15 | Dashing Duchess (NZ) | Symon Wilde |
| 16 | Deakin (FR) | Phillip Stokes |
| 17 | Don Diego De Vega (FR) | Annabel & Rob Archibald |
| 18 | Etna Rosso (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 19 | Figeac (IRE) | Annabel & Rob Archibald |
| 20 | Fianthe La Curre (FR) | Henk Grewe |
| 21 | Flying Bandit | Kerry Parker |
| 22 | Furthurr (IRE) | Andrew Balding |
| 23 | Gilded Water (GB) | Ciaran Maher |
| 24 | Golden Path (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
| 25 | Golden Snap (JPN) | Katsunori Tanaka |
| 26 | Grand Pierro | Jason Warren |
| 27 | Half Yours | Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
| 28 | Interpretation (IRE) | Ciaran Maher |
| 29 | Kings Valley (IRE) | Ciaran Maher |
| 30 | Kovalica (NZ) | Chris Waller |
| 31 | Land Legend (FR) | Chris Waller |
| 32 | Lastotchka (FR) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
| 33 | Mark Twain (NZ) | Roger James & Robert Wellwood |
| 34 | Meydaan (IRE) | Simon & Ed Crisford |
| 35 | Middle Earth (GB) | Ciaran Maher |
| 36 | Militarize (NZ) | Chris Waller |
| 37 | Mister Wolfanga (NZ) | Peter McKay |
| 38 | Moira (CAN) | Chris Waller |
| 39 | More Felons (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 40 | Mormona (FR) | Annabel & Rob Archibald |
| 41 | Naval College (GB) | Annabel & Rob Archibald |
| 42 | Onslowthegreat (USA) | Brian Ellison |
| 43 | Patchompert (AUS) | William Mott |
| 44 | Point King (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| 45 | Post Impressionist (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| 46 | Presage Nocturne (IRE) | Alessandro Bottri |
| 47 | Quietness (GB) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 48 | Revealer | Robert Hickmott |
| 49 | River Of Stars (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 50 | Royal Supremacy (IRE) | Ciaran Maher |
| 51 | Sayeday Sadaty (IRE) | Ciaran Maher |
| 52 | Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) | Graeme Rogerson |
| 53 | Sir Delius (GB) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 54 | Smokin’ Romans (NZ) | Ciaran Maher |
| 55 | So You See (NZ) | Andrew Forsman |
| 56 | Star Of India (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 57 | Stassera (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien & Andy MacGillivray |
| 58 | Torranzino (NZ) | Paul Preusker |
| 59 | Trav (NZ) | Raymond Connors |
| 60 | Valiant King (GB) | Chris Waller |
| 61 | Vauban (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 62 | Via Sistina (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 63 | Whisky On The Hill (GB) | Glen Thompson |
| 64 | Young Werther (NZ) | Danny O’Brien |
| 65 | Zardozi | Ciaran Maher |
