Bart Cummings' quest for a 13th Melbourne Cup moves into another gear this week with four of his hopefuls to run at Caulfield.Heading the quartet is 2008 Cup winner Viewed who makes his return in the Group Two Memsie Stakes (1400m) along with stablemate Empires Choice.VRC St Leger runner-up Precedence and Dandaad, winner of the Lavazza Long Black on Cup day, have been entered for a 1400 metre open handicap on the program."Precedence still has to do a bit more to get into the Cups but he is a pro
Bart Cummings' quest for a 13th Melbourne Cup moves into another gear this week with four of his hopefuls to run at Caulfield.
Heading the quartet is 2008 Cup winner Viewed who makes his return in the Group Two Memsie Stakes (1400m) along with stablemate Empires Choice.
VRC St Leger runner-up Precedence and Dandaad, winner of the Lavazza Long Black on Cup day, have been entered for a 1400 metre open handicap on the program.
"Precedence still has to do a bit more to get into the Cups but he is a promising stayer," Cummings said.
"Viewed will run in the Memsie. He has been in Melbourne for some time and his work and jumpouts have been pleasing.
"Dandaad is an out-and-out stayer while Empires Choice is in fine shape."
Brad Rawiller has been working with Viewed at Flemington but because of his commitment to Phelan Ready in Saturday's Golden Rose in Sydney, Noel Callow has been booked to ride at Caulfield.
The winner of the 2007 Queensland Derby, Empires Choice was Cummings' leading contender for the Melbourne Cup that year but was stranded in Sydney when the equine influenza outbreak in NSW and Queensland halted interstate travel.
He suffered a soft tissue injury in February 2008 and Cummings retired him with the intention of standing him at his Princes Farm property near Sydney.
But after failing to get planning approval in time for the 2008 breeding season, Cummings put the horse back in work.
By Redoute's Choice, Empires Choice is a son of Rosie's Star, a daughter of 1988 Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose.
Cummings was pleased with the return of AJC Australian Derby winner Roman Emperor in Saturday's Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick.
Roman Emperor made ground late over the sprint to finish 6-1/2 lengths from the winner Swift Alliance.
There were 22 entries for the Memsie and 40 for the open handicap.
Among the star-studded Memsie nominations are 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, 2007 Cox Plate winner El Segundo, BMW winner Fiumicino along with exciting four-year-olds Whobegotyou, Mic Mac and Typhoon Tracy.
Whobegotyou is the reigning favourite for the Cox Plate with stablemate, last year's winner Maldivian, El Segundo and Liston Stakes winner Predatory Pricer on the second line of betting.