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Godolphin tries with 10
Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin stable has nominated 10 horses for this year’s 150th running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 2.
The Dubai-based Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor has been trying to win the Cup since 1998, but so far has come up just short with three second placings – Crime Scene (behind Shocking last year), Give The Slip (Ethereal, 2001), Central Park (Rogan Josh, 1999).
bin Suroor has nine of the 10 Godolphin entries – the other is Claremont, trained fellow Dubai-based trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Interestingly, Sheikh Mohammed’s Australian stable, Darley, hasn’t an entry.
The Godolphin entries help make up a total of 253 nominations for the $6million Cup, which were released today by Racing Victoria along with nominations for the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Caulfield Guineas.
In all 67 horses – 49 trained overseas – bred in the northern hemisphere and South Africa have been entered for the Melbourne Cup; another 74 have been bred in New Zealand.
bin Suroor’s nine are: Campanologist (USA), Cavalryman (GB), Darley Sun (IRE), Holberg (UAE), Libel Law (GB), Mastery (GB), Once More Dubai (USA), Pompeyano (IRE) and Sopranist (GB).
Godolphin’s trainer Saeed bin Suroor isn’t the only European trainer trying to break through for a Melbourne Cup win – Luca Cumani, who has twice been runner up, has five horses entered, including his two runners-up Purple Moon (behind Efficient, 2007) and Bauer (Viewed, 2008).
Of course, Irishman Dermot Weld has been able to achieve the feat with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002). Weld has four entries this year, including his outstanding mare Profound Beauty, who was fifth behind Viewed in 2008.
The Japanese, who return for the first time since their historic quinella with Delta Blues and Pop Rock in 2006, have entered five horses, headed by Jaguar Mail, winner of this year’s Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m).
Bart Cummings, who has won the great race 12 times, has an even dozen entered under his name this year, including last year’s Cox Plate winner So You Think and pre-post favourite, the 2009 VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume.
Five-times Cup winner Lee Freedman has seven nominated – five former Europeans, headed by Group 3 Easter Cup winner Fanjura (IRE), and two 4YO mares, Gallant Lady and Well Rounded.
Owner Lloyd Williams’ private trainer Robert Hickmott has the most entries with 20, including the 2007 winner Efficient, the evergreen Zipping (winner of this year’s Australian Cup and a three-time Melbourne Cup runner for two fourths and a ninth) and the imported former Aga Khan-owned star Alandi (IRE), the likely top weight, who is one of eight imports purchased by Williams and his son Nick in the past 12 months and entered for this year’s Cup.
Late last year, Alandi won the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2800m) at the Curragh and the Group 1 Prix du Cadran (4000m) at Longchamp. Williams gave Alandi a warm-up run in the Listed Straight Six (1200m, Flemington) in May before giving him another break from training.
Last year’s Cup winner Shocking is one of six entries from Mark Kavanagh, while David Hayes has 14. Others include Peter Moody (11), Gai Waterhouse (8), Chris Waller (6) and John O’Shea (3).
View the full list of entries:
Pictured: The 2010 Melbourne Cup (right) with the 1910 cup won by Comedy King – and new Slattery Media publication, The Story Of The Melbourne Cup, Australia’s Greatest Race.