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151 runners have been nominated for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 6 with only 23 of them international entries.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Nominations for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup were officially released by the VRC today which revealed the race that stops a nation for 2012 at this stage has 151 entries.
23 international raiders have been nominated, which is two down on the 25 overseas gallopers the Melbourne had attracted at this point last year.
Spearheading the foreign invasion are the likes of Mount Athos and Quest For Peace, trained by Luca Cumani.
The powerhouse stables of Aidan O'Brien and Godolphin's Saeed Bin Suroor could also bring Cup hopefuls down.
O'Brien has nominated promising Galileo entire I Like To Dream, while Godolphin have entered Cavalryman, Colour Vision, Lost In The Moment and Willing Foe.
Dermot Weld's name also features prominently throughout nominations with a trio of runners in the form of Galileo's Choice, Rite Of Passage and Sapphire.
Last years winner Dunaden is also nominated who could to become just the sixth horse in 152 renewals to win the Melbourne Cup more than once.
The same applies to 2007 Cup winner Efficient and 2010 winner Americain.
Americain could also have stablemate Shahwardi travelling with him who is also nominated for the race that stops a nation.
Of the Australian trainers, Peter Moody appears to have a strong arsenal which contains Lights Of Heaven, Voila Ici and Vatuvei among nine the leading trainer has nominated.
Gai Waterhouse has 10 nominated as she searches for an elusive Cup win including More Joyous, Glencadam Gold, Julienas, Western Symbol, Tullamore and Tohunga.
Bart Cummings is another trainer to have nominated nine with American import Sanagas one of them.
Prominent owner Lloyd Williams has seven high class stayers entered at this stage spearheaded by the likes of Green Moon, Midas Touch, Seville and Efficient.
Weights for the 2012 Melbourne Cup will be released on September 18 with first acceptances to be taken on October 9.
A full list of nominations can be viewed on the link below.
http://www.racingandsports.com.au/pdf/melb-cup-nominations-2012.pdf