A total of 124 nominations have been received for the 2016 Melbourne Cup.

Entries for the 2016 Melbourne Cup (3200m) were released today by Racing Victoria and the Victoria Racing Club, with two of the race’s previous winners among the nominations.

Defending champion Prince of Penzance and German-trained 2014 winner Protectionist have both been entered.

Prince of Penzance, the Victorian-trained stayer who created history when carrying jockey Michelle Payne to victory in last year’s race, is one of 11 entries for Ballarat horseman Darren Weir. Weir has also nominated Stakes-winning mare Real Love, exciting import Tosen Stardom and Signoff, fourth in the 2014 Cup won by Protectionist.

Protectionist, a dominant winner of the Cup for Andreas Wohler, Ryan Moore and Australian Bloodstock in 2014 and a recent winner of the Group 1 Grosser Pries von Berlin (2400m), is one of 31 internationally-trained horses from Europe, North America and Asia nominated for the race.

Other highlights among the nominations include:

- A decade after Japan ran the quinella in the 2006 Melbourne Cup with Delta Blues and Pop Rock, trainer Osamu Hirata will attempt to win the race with veteran stayer Curren Mirotic, a dual placegetter in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m);

- Seven entrants from famed Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien including Ascot Gold Cup hero Order Of St George, last-start Great Voltigeur (2400m) winner Idaho and Group 2 Curragh Cup (2800m) winner Sword Fighter;

- The powerful Godolphin operation have nominated a total of 16 horses from Australia and abroad, including 2015 Group 1 Grand Prix de Chantilly (2400m) winner Manatee, last year’s The BMW (2400m) hero Hartnell and Charlie Appleby’s Strensall Stakes (1800m) winner Scottish.

- Five-year-old stayer Da Big Hoss is in contention to become the first American-trained runner to contest the Melbourne Cup after trainer Michael Maker nominated the last-start American St Leger (2700m) winner.

- Talented French galloper Erupt, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and owned by the Niarchos Family, holds a nomination for the Cup.

- This year’s victors of high profile European staying races in Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3200m) winner Big Orange, Ebor (2800m) winner Heartbreak City and Jockey Club Stakes (2400m) victor Exosphere.

- Five-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Lee Freedman, who trains in partnership with brother Anthony, has 12 entries including last-start Doomben Cup (2000m) winner Our Ivanhowe, VRC St Leger (2800m) winner Cool Chap and the talented Tom Melbourne.

- Derby winners Tarzino (Victoria Derby), Tavago (Australian Derby) and Howard Be Thy Name (SA Derby), as well as last season’s Oaks winners Jameka (VRC Oaks), Sofia Rosa (ATC Oaks), Provocative (Queensland Oaks) and Fanatic (NZ Oaks) hold nominations for the Cup.

- Sydney-based trainer James Cummings, grandson of the late ‘Cups King’ Bart Cummings, is represented in the nominations by five-year-old entire Ruling Dynasty.

Weights for the Emirates Melbourne Cup will be released on Tuesday, 13 September, with first acceptances taken at 12 noon (AEST) on Tuesday, 4 October.