Last year’s winner Cross Counter is among the nominations for the 2019 Group 1 $8m Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
2018 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, above, is among the nominations for the 2019 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Charlie Appleby trained Cross Counter heads up the contingent of thirty-nine international stayers that are included in the 152 nominations for The Race That Stops A Nation on the first Tuesday in November.
Cross Counter showed his wares as a world class stayer with his win in the 2018 Melbourne Cup and Appleby is set to return to Australia with the Northern Hemisphere four year old after he ran a game third to the odds on favourite Stradivarius in the Group 1 £500,000 Qatar Goodwood Cup Stakes (2 miles) at Goodwood in England on July 30.
“He has strengthened this year. He was a well-handicapped horse when winning last year’s Melbourne Cup. It will be a stiffer task this year, but the way he won the race we know he handles all the conditions down there, so it is well worth going again,” Appleby said.
“He has still run a solid race and he has got a racing weight in the Melbourne Cup at the moment. We hope he will have a live shot again.”
“We will see how Cross Counter comes out of this race and we might take in the Irish St Leger (G1, 14f, the Curragh, September 15) before returning to Melbourne.”
The next six horses to cross the line behind Cross Counter in the 2018 Melbourne Cup are also entered for this year’s Cup, Marmelo (GB, Hughie Morrison), Prince Of Arran (GB, Charlie Fellowes), Finche (GB, Chris Waller), Rostropovich (IRE, David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig), Youngstar (Chris Waller) and Sir Charles Road (Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott).
“It’s great to see Cross Counter given his chance to become the first dual international winner of the Melbourne Cup and those horses that finished second through seventh behind him last year being given their chance to atone.” Racing Victoria’s (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter said.
Appleby has also nominated Ispolini while Finche and Youngstar are two of Chris Waller’s thirteen Melbourne Cup entries which also includes 2019 Australian Oaks winner Verry Elleegant and the 2018 The Metropolitan winner Patrick Erin.
Group 1 winner Avilius is one of four James Cummings trained stayers entered for Australia’s greatest race while Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has ten entries headed up by Red Cardinal and Bigg Duke.
Victorian trainer Anthony Freedman has nominated Japanese import Ambitious as well as Steel Prince who has already secured a spot in the 2019 Melbourne with his win in the Listed $400,000 The Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington on May 25 after that race was included among the exempt free races.
The winners of Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m), the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m), the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) are also exempt from the ballot for the 2019 Melbourne Cup.
Weights for the 2019 Melbourne Cup will be released on Tuesday, September 10 while the first acceptances will be taken on Tuesday October 1.
A further two rounds of acceptances will be taken on October 15 and October 28 before the final field for the 2019 Melbourne Cup being declared on Saturday, November 2.
Nominations for the 2019 Melbourne Cup (3200m)
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20x4614x9x | ALFARRIS (FR) | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 2 | 461214253x | ALIFEROUS | M | 4 | Kris Lees |
| 3 | 834x68x90x | AMBITIOUS (JPN) | H | 8 | Anthony Freedman |
| 4 | 11x351424x | ANGEL OF HEAVEN | M | 4 | Kris Lees |
| 5 | x11x16511x | ANGEL OF TRUTH | G | 4 | Gwenda Markwell |
| 6 | 53145x143x | ATTENTION RUN (GER) | M | 5 | Kris Lees |
| 7 | 0x11511x4x | AVILIUS (GB) | G | 6 | James Cummings |
| 8 | 2x8830611x | AZURO (FR) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 9 | 322x1x2x3x | BARSANTI (IRE) | G | 8 | Roger Varian |
| 10 | 058x255x2x | BASS (JPN) | G | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 11 | 1x41x3324x | BEAU BALMAIN (GER) | H | 5 | Jim Conlan |
| 12 | 622008326x | BIG DUKE (IRE) | G | 8 | Kris Lees |
| 13 | 1x1x13x | BIN BATTUTA (GB) | G | 6 | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 14 | 2x0105110x | BIZZWINKLE (NZ) | G | 6 | Patrick Payne |
| 15 | 3647623x1x | BLUE BREEZE (NZ) | G | 6 | Allan Morley |
| 16 | 1x8341469x | BONDEIGER | H | 8 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 17 | 2x87400x0x | BRIMHAM ROCKS (GB) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 18 | 1521x | BUCKHURST (IRE) | H | 4 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 19 | – | CALIBURN (IRE) | H | 5 | Jamie Richards |
| 20 | 2x3x14093x | CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 21 | 5147225x5x | CARIF | H | 4 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
| 22 | 121x128x5x | CASCADIAN (GB) | G | 5 | James Cummings |
| 23 | 1x | CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 24 | 12x1x1x43x | CROSS COUNTER (GB) | G | 5 | Charlie Appleby |
| 25 | 63318919x | CROWN PROSECUTOR | H | 4 | Stephen Marsh |
| 26 | 210x8131x | DABIYR (IRE) | G | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 27 | 0x2468223x | DAL HARRAILD (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 28 | – | DASHING WILLOUGHBY (GB) | H | 4 | Andrew Balding |
| 29 | 9x32964x3x | DESERT SKYLINE (IRE) | G | 6 | David Elsworth |
| 30 | 12x3123x | DIVANATION | M | 5 | Tony McEvoy |
| 31 | 112x122x | DJANGO FREEMAN (GER) | H | 4 | Robert Hickmott |
| 32 | x217549x8x | DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (IRE) | G | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 33 | 2x | DOWNDRAFT (IRE) | H | 5 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 34 | 5x53314x0x | DURETTO (GB) | G | 8 | Matt Cumani |
| 35 | 543140x | ECHO LAD | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 36 | – | EMINENCE (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 37 | – | ENTENTE | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 38 | 3111890x8x | ETYMOLOGY | G | 7 | James Cummings |
| 39 | 86x2x0x69x | EXEMPLAR (IRE) | G | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 40 | 110x51437x | FAIRLIGHT (IRE) | G | 5 | Kris Lees |
| 41 | x655x1x34x | FINCHE (GB) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 42 | 4840x5516x | GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (FR) | H | 7 | Archie Alexander |
| 43 | 8888123x1x | GIRL TUESDAY | M | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 44 | 1102113x5x | GLORY DAYS (NZ) | M | 7 | Bill Thurlow |
| 45 | 546884x12x | GOLD MOUNT (GB) | G | 7 | Ian Williams |
| 46 | 4201x6112x | GREY LION (IRE) | G | 8 | Matthew Smith |
| 47 | 218825616x | GUNDOWN | G | 5 | Michael Moroney |
| 48 | x8112x513x | HAKY (IRE) | G | 6 | John Hammond |
| 49 | 113x12619x | HANG MAN (IRE) | G | 6 | Michael Moroney |
| 50 | 79x818328x | HARIPOUR (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 51 | 21x4520x4x | HARRISON (GB) | G | 7 | Liam Howley |
| 52 | 16184x | HEART OF GRACE (JPN) | M | 5 | Frank Pangallo |
| 53 | 3x16x2172x | HOMESMAN (USA) | G | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 54 | 84x817333x | HUMIDOR (NZ) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 55 | x33444658x | HUNTING HORN (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 56 | x9239x166x | HUSH WRITER (JPN) | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 57 | 1x | IL PARADISO (USA) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 58 | 235x55121x | ILWENDO (GER) | H | 6 | Matthew Smith |
| 59 | 247402255x | IN A TWINKLING | G | 4 | Jamie Richards |
| 60 | 244x21124x | ISPOLINI (GB) | G | 5 | Charlie Appleby |
| 61 | 712x232x4x | JOHANNES VERMEER (IRE) | H | 7 | Liam Howley |
| 62 | 73x1x | JUST THINKIN’ | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 63 | x931911x7x | KENEDNA | M | 6 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 64 | 911317x22x | KEW GARDENS (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 65 | 12x141x3x | KING OF LEOGRANCE (FR) | G | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 66 | x43236Px5x | KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 67 | 11027x | LADY YOUNG | M | 4 | Tony McEvoy |
| 68 | 220x34421x | LATROBE (IRE) | H | 5 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 69 | 3237x4121x | LOOKS LIKE ELVIS | G | 5 | Bryan Dais |
| 70 | 70x364408x | LORD FANDANGO (GER) | G | 7 | Archie Alexander |
| 71 | 8x212x231x | LYS GRACIEUX (JPN) | M | 6 | Yoshito Yahagi |
| 72 | x2x532202x | MAGIC WAND (IRE) | M | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 73 | 2x2x15521x | MARMELO (GB) | H | 7 | Hughie Morrison |
| 74 | 7250x1433x | MASTER OF REALITY (IRE) | H | 5 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 75 | 6x192x322x | MASTER OF WINE (GER) | G | 5 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 76 | 4x72x21x2x | MEINER WUNSCH (JPN) | H | 6 | Takahiro Mizuno |
| 77 | x211x11x1x | MER DE GLACE (JPN) | H | 5 | Hisashi Shimizu |
| 78 | x0254x319x | MIDTERM (GB) | G | 7 | Michael & Luke Cerchi |
| 79 | 12x0x1322x | MIRAGE DANCER (GB) | H | 6 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 80 | 1x1x3x1x1x | MORANDO (FR) | G | 7 | Andrew Balding |
| 81 | x131111x5x | MOSH MUSIC | M | 5 | Archie Alexander |
| 82 | 6212x | MOUNT EVEREST (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 83 | 0x5110x78x | MOUNTAIN HUNTER (USA) | G | 6 | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 84 | 11x112131x | MR QUICKIE | G | 4 | Phillip Stokes |
| 85 | 4341x9x00x | MUNTAHAA (IRE) | G | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 86 | 4x1x72351x | MUSTAJEER (GB) | G | 7 | Kris Lees |
| 87 | 2x1635678x | NELSON (IRE) | G | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 88 | 2112x30x8x | NEUFBOSC (FR) | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 89 | 160x34000x | NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 90 | 3x | NORWAY (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 91 | – | ONCE WERE LOST (IRE) | G | 4 | Lindsey Smith |
| 92 | 64x351211x | OUR CANDIDATE (IRE) | H | 5 | Kris Lees |
| 93 | 4x013x121x | OUR CENTURY (IRE) | G | 9 | Kim Waugh |
| 94 | 10328x277x | OUR VENICE BEACH (IRE) | H | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 95 | 1x46797x9x | PATRICK ERIN (NZ) | G | 8 | Chris Waller |
| 96 | 12x332x70x | POUNAMU | G | 8 | Michael Kent |
| 97 | 138x49x58x | PRINCE OF ARRAN (GB) | G | 7 | Charlie Fellowes |
| 98 | 425x14941x | QAFILA | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 99 | 54x44x239x | RAHEEN HOUSE (IRE) | G | 6 | William Haggas |
| 100 | 1x6x237x4x | RAYMOND TUSK (IRE) | H | 5 | Richard Hannon |
| 101 | 153x16639x | RE EDIT | M | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 102 | 0300x1170x | RED CARDINAL (IRE) | G | 8 | Kris Lees |
| 103 | x3x3222x2x | RED GALILEO (GB) | G | 9 | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 104 | 500x15610x | RED VERDON (USA) | H | 7 | Ed Dunlop |
| 105 | 192251557x | ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 106 | 11x | RULE THE WORLD | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 107 | 34100x040x | RUNAWAY | R | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 108 | 1953x4554x | SAUNTER BOY (FR) | G | 7 | Kris Lees |
| 109 | 211x23727x | SCARLET DREAM | M | 4 | Mark Newnham |
| 110 | 9711575x8x | SELF SENSE | G | 9 | David Brideoake |
| 111 | 2x1x92321x | SHRAAOH (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller |
| 112 | 5x42170x4x | SIKANDARABAD (IRE) | G | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 113 | x444740x7x | SIR CHARLES ROAD | G | 6 | Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott |
| 114 | x310x3321x | SIXTIES GROOVE (IRE) | G | 7 | Kris Lees |
| 115 | 32x00x048x | SOUND (GER) | H | 7 | Michael Moroney |
| 116 | – | SOUTH PACIFIC (GB) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 117 | 12x3x3x41x | SOUTHERN FRANCE (IRE) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 118 | 622x013x3x | SPANISH POINT (GB) | G | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 119 | 122x11111x | STEEL PRINCE (IRE) | G | 6 | Anthony Freedman |
| 120 | x26x536x1x | STELLAR IMPACT (JPN) | M | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 121 | 3219155x9x | STEPS (IRE) | G | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 122 | – | STIVERS (ARG) | H | 6 | Dermot K Weld |
| 123 | x80x56252x | SULLY (NZ) | G | 5 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 124 | 38414x0x3x | SUPER TITUS (GB) | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 125 | 112x216x2x | SUPERNOVA (GB) | H | 5 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 126 | 11514132x | SURPRISE BABY (NZ) | G | 5 | Paul Preusker |
| 127 | 143013215x | SWEET THOMAS (GER) | G | 8 | Matthew Smith |
| 128 | 1x211x | TARWIN | G | 4 | Michael Kent |
| 129 | 11x94x | TAVISTOCK DANCER (NZ) | G | 4 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
| 130 | – | TECHNICIAN (IRE) | H | 4 | Martyn Meade |
| 131 | x22470141x | THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) | H | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 132 | 1921249x1x | THE GOOD FIGHT (NZ) | G | 5 | Shaune Ritchie |
| 133 | 453531320x | TOP OF THE RANGE (NZ) | G | 6 | Michael Moroney |
| 134 | 2x01327x5x | TORCEDOR (IRE) | G | 8 | Andreas Wohler |
| 135 | 6x0332169x | TRANSACT | G | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 136 | 16x5233x9x | TRAP FOR FOOLS | G | 6 | Jarrod McLean |
| 137 | 2x1x | TRUE SELF (IRE) | M | 7 | William Mullins |
| 138 | 2423x2411x | TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE) | H | 7 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 139 | 03860x7x0x | US ARMY RANGER (IRE) | G | 7 | Liam Howley |
| 140 | 14x772231x | VALAC (IRE) | G | 8 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 141 | 431x52390x | VERNANME (NZ) | H | 4 | Stephen Marsh |
| 142 | 57x2111x9x | VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) | M | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 143 | 211x36621x | VOW AND DECLARE | G | 4 | Danny O’Brien |
| 144 | x220x0404x | WALL OF FIRE (IRE) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 145 | 13x | WESTERN AUSTRALIA (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 146 | 11x211x1x | WOLFE (JPN) | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 147 | x33x2x6x6x | WREN’S DAY (USA) | H | 6 | James Cummings |
| 148 | 1x1850x23x | YOGI (NZ) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 149 | 276x059x8x | YOUNGSTAR | M | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 150 | 436013x10x | YUCATAN (IRE) | H | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 151 | 2221x00x7x | YULONG PRINCE (SAF) | H | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 152 | 0x6200013x | ZACADA (NZ) | G | 7 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
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