RV’s International Recruitment Officer, Leigh Jordan, said the number of international horses entered in the Caulfield Cup was a mark of respect.
He said the interest that the Spring Carnival now attracts world-wide was rapidly growing and most international trainers now wanted to come to Australia.
“It’s a vote of confidence to have training greats like Sir Michael Stoute, Aidan O’Brien and Saeed bin Suroor lodge entries and equally as important to have the next wave of UK trainers like Roger Varian, Marco Botti and Andrew Balding show genuine interest in our premier races,” he said.
"The Melbourne Racing Club’s move to increase the total Caulfield Cup prizemoney to $3 million as well as paying prizemoney down to tenth place has been well received by the connections of international horses, and we now have the entries to translate into increased participation,” he added.
Three Japanese horses have been nominated – Admire Rakti, Admire Flight and Bande – paving the way for our first Japanese runner since Tokai Trick in 2010.
Emerging UK-based trainer Marco Botti has last year’s Caulfield Cup runner-up Dandino and his new stable addition, Mount Athos, who ran third in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
Lloyd Williams’ private trainer, Robert Hickmott, has 12 horses nominated, including defending championFawkner, 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon, along with the highly rated Sea Moon and recent German purchase Almandin.
Global racing giant, Coolmore, has entered two horses for the Caufield Cup via head-trainer Aidan O’Brien –Kingfisher and Venus De Milo.
Regular Australian visitor Luca Cumani has entered two horses, My Quest For Peace and Sir Walter Scott, while gun young trainer Andrew Balding has three nominations – Havana Best, Side Glance and Van Percy.