Seven internationally-trained gallopers have entered pre-export quarantine in England and Ireland as preparations ramp up for their trip to Melbourne for the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival.
The first shipment of international contenders is scheduled to depart for Australia on September 27 following two weeks in quarantine, with all seven horses nominated for both the $6 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17 and the $10 million Melbourne Cup 17 days later.
Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien has four members of the travelling party in Kizlyar, Omni Man, Small Fry and Starford.
Roger Varian’s Enfjaar, Harry Charlton’s Wine Dark Sea and Ciaron Maher’s Point Of Law complete the seven-horse shipment.
“The first seven international horses targeting the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival yesterday entered pre-export quarantine in the UK and Ireland where they will remain for two weeks prior to travelling to Melbourne,” Racing Victoria head of racing Paul Bloodworth said.
Kizlyar, Omni Man, Small Fry, Starford and Enfjaar are completing their quarantine requirements in Ireland, while Wine Dark Sea and Point Of Law have entered isolation in England.
All seven horses have passed compulsory distal-limb scans and undergone two physical veterinary examinations as part of Racing Victoria’s pre-travel protocols.
Each horse must undergo one further veterinary examination during the quarantine period before being cleared to travel to Australia.
The September 27 departure has been scheduled to provide the horses with sufficient time to complete their mandatory post-arrival quarantine in Melbourne ahead of the Caulfield Cup.
The first shipment contains seven of the 23 internationally-trained horses among the 101 nominations for this year’s Melbourne Cup.
O’Brien is particularly well represented, accounting for 11 Melbourne Cup nominations and 15 of the 124 horses initially entered for the Caulfield Cup.
The Irish trainer will be chasing his third Melbourne Cup victory after previously winning Australia’s most famous race with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020.
