The Europeans are set to dominate this year's Melbourne Cup with at least eight starters, six of which are in the top 10 most favoured runners.There were 39 horses left vying for the 24 places in the field for the Cup on Tuesday week after third declarations were taken including leading local hope Efficient, winner of the 2007 Cup and third favourite at $9 behind Irish stayer Septimus ($4.50) and English horse Mad Rush ($6.50).Mad Rush is trained by Luca Cumani who is also hoping Geelong Cup win
The Europeans are set to dominate this year's Melbourne Cup with at least eight starters, six of which are in the top 10 most favoured runners.
There were 39 horses left vying for the 24 places in the field for the Cup on Tuesday week after third declarations were taken including leading local hope Efficient, winner of the 2007 Cup and third favourite at $9 behind Irish stayer Septimus ($4.50) and English horse Mad Rush ($6.50).
Mad Rush is trained by Luca Cumani who is also hoping Geelong Cup winner Bauer can get into the field. He is currently 25th in the order of entry with the winner of Saturday's Saab Quality (2500m) guaranteed a Cup start.
Cumani prepared Purple Moon to run second last year and said he would keep making the long trip until he won the Cup.
"As long as we have horses good enough to compete we will keep coming here," Cumani said.
"Everyone is so nice. I hope they stay nice if we win it."
The trainer was a special guest at Monday's official launch and the return to Melbourne of the Cup which has been on a national and international tour.
He was not here to witness Mad Rush's fourth in the Caulfield Cup but said he was pleased with the horse who has been in the care of his daughter Francesca.
"Everything is in perfect order," Cumani said.
"Mad Rush is a horse who rates three to five pounds higher than Purple Moon in Europe.
"That doesn't necessarily mean he will win but he is a similar type of horse and I expect him to go well.
"There are plenty of dangers. Septimus is the best horse in Europe, Nom Du Jeu impressed me and Zipping ran a good race on Saturday."
New Zealander Nom Du Jeu, winner of the AJC Australian Derby in the autumn, ran a slashing second to Godolphin's All The Good in the Caulfield Cup while Zipping was runner-up to Maldivian in the Cox Plate.
Of the 39 horses left in the Cup, Book Of Kells, Largo Lad, Chiefcomingfirst and Dandaad have yet to meet the qualifying conditions but are all entered for the Saab Quality on Saturday with the winner earning a Cup berth.
Mad Rush will get his first look at Flemington on Tuesday morning. Because he is still in quarantine he will be kept separate from the local hopes who will go through their paces at the Breakfast With The Stars and will gallop at the end of the session.
The world's leading trainer Aidan O'Brien arrived in Melbourne on Monday and will supervise his team of Septimus, Honolulu and Alessandro Volta at the Sandown Quarantine Centre while Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor will also be in attendance to watch over All The Good.