Despite tougher veterinary protocols, Racing Victoria is confident of strong international numbers for the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Racing Victoria is confident European and Japanese connections of horses considering the Melbourne Spring are well aware of the protocols for this year’s carnival.
And despite those protocols capping horse numbers at Werribee to 24 this year, RV is hopeful of 10 to 15 horses arriving this year.
Paul Bloodworth, RV General Manager International and Racing Operations, said the total number could depend on how many competitors Joseph O’Brien and Lloyd and Nick Williams decide to bring out.
Already O’Brien’s father Aidan has indicated he will miss this year’s Spring Carnival because of the protocols introduced in a bid to stop the deaths of runners in the Melbourne Cup.
“I’m pretty confident that those that need to know are aware of what is required to bring a horse to Melbourne now,” Bloodworth told RSN.
“A lot depends on Joseph O’Brien and the Williams family in what they bring because they have previously had big numbers and it has been well publicised that Aidan O’Brien probably won’t be coming.
“He has brought between four and six horses in the past, so if they didn’t come, that will have a pretty big impact on our numbers.”
Bloodworth said Andrew Balding was keen on bringing Ascot Gold Cup placegetter Spanish Mission to possibly run in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
“He is very keen to come and is working through the timelines of when to get the vet checks done,” Bloodworth said.”
Bloodworth said Willie Mullins was keen to return with True Self, victorious in the past two Queen Elizabeth Stakes during Melbourne Cup week along with Charlie Appleby, who won the Cup with Cross Counter in 2018, with a couple of three-year-old geldings, while Tony Millard is interested in bringing Panfield down from Hong Kong.
Nominations for the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate close on August 3.
