Spanish Mission Tops Melbourne Cup Foreign Contenders

Six international entries remain in contention for the Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) following the first stage of forfeits for Australia's Spring Carnival. 

The Andrew Balding-trained Spanish Mission , who narrowly lost out to Stradivarius  in last month's Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup (G2), could line up against last year's winner Twilight Payment  for trainer Joseph O'Brien, who also has Master of Reality  in contention. 

Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (G1) runner-up Away He Goes , Rodrigo Diaz , and Sky Bet Ebor winner Sonnyboyliston  complete the overseas line-up for the AU$8 million race.

Stricter entry requirements have led to international nominations being cut in half for the Melbourne Cup, including notable absences from Charlie Appleby, Saeed bin Suroor, and Aidan O'Brien, who entered 20 horses between them for the past two runnings of the race. 

The concerns surrounding more stringent veterinary checks and travel restrictions have also dramatically hit entries for the Caulfield Cup (G1).

Only Spanish Mission and the Australian Bloodstock part-owned Rodrigo Diaz remain as international representatives for October's AU$5 million race.

At this stage last year 12 overseas runners remained in contention for the group 1 handicap, in which there may be no international raiders for the first time since 2004 if Spanish Mission and Rodrigo Diaz are still confined to quarantine in mid-October. 

To be able to run in the Caulfield Cup on Oct. 16 the pair would have to enter quarantine by Sept. 9 for arrival in Australia on Sept. 25, one of two international flights ahead of the Spring Carnival.

The two runners are expected to arrive instead on Oct. 12, three weeks ahead of the Melbourne Cup on Nov. 2. 

International runners filled the first three places in the Melbourne Cup last year, with Twilight Payment getting the better of Tiger Moth  and the recently retired Prince of Arran .