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Several top European trainers have their sights set on securing a bumper $4.4 million payout at this year's Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse.
Fifteen international raiders are in contention to participate in the race this year including several fancied horses from the United Kingdom and Ireland.
More than half of the top ten horses in the ante-post market are from overseas, highlighting the increasingly international nature of 'the race that stops the nation'.
Read on as we take a closer look at some of the trainers eyeing Melbourne Cup glory this year, starting with one who was a trailblazer in this race towards the end of the 20th century.
Weld Seeks Third Melbourne Cup Success
Dermot Weld laid the foundations for European participation in the Melbourne Cup after becoming the first international trainer to win the race in 1993. He famously claimed the prestigious prize with Vintage Crop and followed up by saddling Media Puzzle to victory nine years later.Weld's Harbour Wind is in line to contest this year's race, although he is yet to confirm whether he will send the talented three-year-old to Australia.
"Harbour Wind has been entered in the Melbourne Cup and we'll see what weight he is allocated before we make a decision on whether we will send him or not," Weld said.
"The key thing with regard to Melbourne is to see what weight he gets, because I have the highest regard for Willie Mullins' horse Vauban. He's a high-class stayer who is going to be very hard to beat for any horse who runs in the race.
"I would like to have another runner in the Melbourne Cup at some stage but, as always, you have to wait for the right horse to come along. It may be a year too soon for this horse, but he's entered and I want to see what weight he gets."
Harbour Wind has won three of his four career starts, with his most recent victory coming in a Listed race at Leopardstown under jockey Chris Hayes.
The horse is a best-priced 25/1 to win the Melbourne Cup and will likely attract plenty of interest in the betting market if Weld allows him to take his chance.
Mullins Aiming to Bash the Bookies with Vauban
Given Weld's record in the Melbourne Cup, his comments about Vauban's chances of winning the race are undoubtedly noteworthy.Mullins' charge was a hugely impressive winner of the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot, before following up in a Group 3 event at Naas. Those performances resulted in the leading Melbourne Cup betting platforms installing Vauban as the 6/1 favourite to emerge victorious this year.
Mullins resisted the temptation to run the horse at the recent Irish Champions Festival and the move could pay dividends at Flemington.
The top Irish trainer will be double-handed in the Melbourne Cup, with Absurde also set to compete in the race. The horse finished a distant second to Vauban at Royal Ascot before winning the Ebor Handicap at York under jockey Frankie Dettori.
Mullins has had several horses place in the Melbourne Cup, but is yet to record a victory. His Max Dynamite came agonisingly close by finishing second in 2015, and the Irishman is eager to go one better this time around.
"The type of yard we have, it's very doubtful we'll ever have a Breeders' Cup horse or something like that," Mullins said. "So, as flat racing goes this is probably as high as we'd go - that or maybe a Gold Cup horse in Ascot or the Prix du Cadran in Paris.
"The nature of this race (Melbourne Cup) helps us – and there's the small matter of eight million Australian dollars too!"
Botti Pondering Tilt at the Melbourne Cup
Marco Botti is considering sending Giavellotto to the Melbourne Cup following his excellent recent run in the Lonsdale Cup at York.The horse finished third behind Coltrane and Courage Mon Ami in the Group 2 event – form which makes him one of the best stayers in the United Kingdom. If Botti decides to send Giavellotto to the Melbourne Cup, odds of 33/1 will attract plenty of interest from punters searching for an each-way bet.
Giavellotto's conquerors at York finished first and second in the Ascot Gold Cup, which highlights the strength of the opposition he faced on that occasion. Botti previously thought that 14 furlongs was the horse's optimum trip, but believes his run at York demonstrates his ability to stay two miles.
Owner Francesca Franchini will make the final decision about Giavellotto's next target, but Botti is keen to persuade her to allow the horse to run in Australia.
"We are still discussing about the Melbourne Cup and I'm pretty sure we will enter him and then finalise the plans," Botti said. "Otherwise in England it will just be Champions Day (at Ascot) as the only goal left for him.
"I would be in favour of going for the Melbourne Cup. The fact he went to Dubai and is a horse who travels well and I also think the track will suit him – it is similar to York, a left-handed track.
"I think he will get in. He won a Group Two so he should make the cut for the Melbourne Cup, but then it is up to the owners as it is quite an expensive trip to take on and as we know the rules are quite strict before the race. The vetting can be tricky but he is a sound horse.
"If we take that route, hopefully all goes to plan, and I would be in favour if the owner wanted to go."
