Irish St Leger winner Royal Diamond and emerging French stayer Now We Can were the surprise names amongst 98 first acceptances for the $A2.5 million BMW Caulfield Cup which closed on Tuesday, reports Racing Victoria. After originally advising Racing Victoria that they would no longer be targeting the world’s richest 2400m handicap, the connections of both horses have reopened the door with their payments to remain in the 16 October feature.
Royal Diamond is entered to defend his Irish St Leger crown this weekend with a start to rule him ineligible for Caulfield due to quarantine requirements, whilst plans for Now We Can to travel down under were originally put on hold after his winning streak ended at Deauville, France last month.
Click here to view the first acceptances for the BMW Caulfield Cup
With international Cup contenders required to enter quarantine in the UK this Thursday, a decision is required over the next 48 hours whether the pair join the first wave of European raiders set to arrive in Melbourne on AFL Grand Final Day.
“Johnny Murtagh, the trainer and rider of Royal Diamond, has advised me that he is now considering a trip to Australia for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups rather than defending his Irish St Leger crown this weekend,” RV International Recruitment Officer, Leigh Jordon, said.
“The quarantine requirements mean he would be unable to do both so he will review the acceptances and advise me within the next 48 hours of his decision. Certainly it would be a coup for Caulfield if the Irish St Leger winner chose to compete in their race.”
Jordon explained that Now We Can, who is owned by Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive, Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges, had been a key target for this year’s Spring Racing Carnival, but that his inexperience was set to rule him out.
“Now We Can has won five of his seven starts and is a emerging star that we were eager to get to Melbourne. After his last start defeat we expected that the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival was a more likely option, but we are pleased that connections are now reconsidering this year’s Carnival,” Jordon said.
“He has not been entered for the Melbourne Cup so if he does come the Caulfield Cup would be his primary target, with a trip onto Hong Kong for their international meeting in December a possibility given his ownership. We will have a firm answer in the next 48 hours.”
Royal Diamond and Now We Can are amongst seven internationals that remain in contention for the Caulfield Cup following first acceptances, with Dubai World Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux and American St Leger winner Dandino those most favoured to start.
Her Majesty The Queen’s horse Carlton House was the most notable of the 75 original nominees withdrawn from the Caulfield Cup today with trainer Gai Waterhouse electing to keep him in the Group 1 Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley only.
Other withdrawals included internationals Very Nice Name, Top Trip, Main Sequence, Opinion and Voluese de Coeurs and locally trained Michelangelo, Strawberry Boy, Dany The Fox and Excluded.
All of the key players in Cup betting, including four-year-old stars Super Cool and Hawkspur, were paid up for, as was lone three-year-old entrant Prince Harada who is favourite for the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) in Sydney this weekend.