Connections of Aussie-bred gallopers keep the Melbourne Cup dream alive.
Northern Hemisphere-bred gallopers dominated this year's Melbourne Cup nominations, which closed on Tuesday, with 84 of the 123 entries born the other side of the equator.
Australia has only 20 entries and some of them have the credentials to be a force, most notably dual Derby winner Riff Rocket (American Pharoah) and two of Australia's Group 1-winning fillies from last season, Zardozi (Kingman) and Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun).
There is also $35,000 yearling The Map (Alpine Eagle), who although modestly-bred, is guaranteed a run in the race thanks to her win in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes, which carries a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption.
Her's is a story likely to capture the non-racing public's attention if she does make it into the Cup field.
Some of the other Aussie-bred entries appear more in need of a miracle to make it to the starting stalls on November 5 with their connections content to risk the $1500 entry fee and try and be this year's fairytale story.
DUNLEER LAD: Amy Small is yet to have a runner as a trainer, but that did not stop her throwing in an entry for her recent stable acquisition, who she bought for $1750 on Inglis Digital earlier this year. A son of Dundeel and the Octagonal mare Clementine, the 5YO has had five starts and is yet to fill a top-four placing.
RED ACES: The Nick Ran-trained colt by Dundeel out of the Encosta De Lago mare Cardiac is in the running to become the first 3YO to contest the Melbourne Cup since Arena in 1998. Bred by Musk Creek Farm in Victoria, the $380,000 Inglis Premier purchase has only had two starts; a third placing over 1300m at Seymour before a strong win in the 1800m Byerley Handicap on July 20.
SENTIMENTAL FLAME: The Travis Doudle-trained 4YO was bred by Grant and Alana Williams in WA and was sold for $150,000 at Inglis Premier. By Kermadec, a son of three-time Melbourne Cup-winning sire Teofilo, and out of the More Than Ready mare Sentimental Star, her two wins have come in a 1200m Gawler maiden and a 1550m BM66 for 3YOs at Morphettville but she was placed in last year's Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m).
THINK 'N' FLY: Mornington trainer David Noonan probably didn't think he'd be paying up for the Melbourne Cup for the So You Think gelding when he paid $15,000 for him late last year, but then he also probably didn't expect he would have already paid for himself almost 10 times over. Out of the Flying Spur mare Gliding, the 8YO was a $100,000 yearling after being bought out of the Blue Gum Farm draft at Inglis Premier all the way back in 2018 and has had 48 starts for seven wins and 13 minors.
WAY UP HIGH: The Greg Galt homebred is one of 16 named-foals from the first crop of Last Typhoon, a son of Winx's sire Street Cry out of the former Australian Horse of the Year, Typhoon Tracy, who produced only 76 foals from six seasons at stud. Out of the Lucky Owners mare Nitrox, Way Up High has won four races but had her 24th start in 2400m BM70 at Sandown on Wednesday and could manage only fourth placing.
The other Australian-bred horses among the Melbourne Cup entries are Alegron, Aurora's Symphony, Coco Sun, Don't Doubt Dory, Foxy Cleopatra, Knight's Choice, Manzoice, Mare Of Mt Buller, Mission Of Love, Muramasa, Promises Kept and Suizuro.
