Thread: Melbourne Cup.. more foreign horses than locals

Courier Mail, 11 Oct.

The elite Melbourne Cup field next month may not include a single locally bred stayer for the first time in race's celebrated 150-year old history. A record number of international stayers are travelling down under to compete for the most prized trophy in Australian sport - and take the lions share of the $ 6 million prize money.There could be as many as 14 northern hemisphere - trained stayers in the 24 horse cup field, plus there is an abundance of former European stayers being prepared by Australian trainers [the latest Cup order of entry reveals 25 of the top 40 stayers began their career overseas.]

Include NZ.- bred horses and there are only 6 Australian bred stayers among the qualifiers. French stayer Americain is leadind the foreign contingent and is joined by horses from England, Ireland, Germany, America, United Arab Emirates, and Chile. Even Bart Cummings has joined the foreign legion and is preparing German stayer Illo for the race,the Freedman brothers are preparing German horse Lucas Cranach. VRC chief exectitive Dale Monteith said the Melbourne Cup is recognised internationally as the World's staying championship.It's come a long way, lets hope we find a local champ, Bob

Trainer, Danny Morton has a horse he says can beat Black Caviar.Scenic Blast, away for the last year in the US racing against the best US sprinters, has the ability, Morton said.His Plan? Black Caviar wins from the front, gets there when she wants to, and blows them away.Scenic Blast comes from the back, and just rattles home. The two champs. face each other at Moonie Valley next Sat., but Morton says his horse is a little underdone, and says the Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington on Nov.5 is more realistic.At Moonie Valley on Sat., Black Caviar will be out to equal Carbine and Bernboroughs 15 race win streaks. Bob