INTERNATIONAL RUNNERS IN MELBOURNE CUP

In the last 40 years the Melbourne Cup has become a truly international event.

But since the early 1990's we have had overseas horses specifically encouraged to compete in our premier horse race and not just be trained here.

However overseas horses had tasted success in the Cup as far back as 1910 when Comedy King became the first "import" to win our major prize in racing.

Blackwood in 1924 was the second international horse to win.

Since 1978 we have seen a constant flow of overseas participation, be it by Australians purchasing overseas horses to aim them specifically at the Cup, breeding them to overseas time or by racing authorities offering inducements to get overseas owners and trainers to make the long journey down under.

The late Robert Sangster started the "new" trend back in 1978 with Panamint and then finally succeeding two years later in 1980 with Beldale Ball.

Imported horses to be trained here changed to be those who come to Australia to race with their current trainers from the mid ’90s. In more recent times those overseas trainers are starting to get a better idea of the type of horse required to win the Cup.

In the past the emphasis has been on the dour staying types of gallopers who can stay all day, ie up to 4000m.

However it has been shown that the best type of European galloper is one with form up to about 2800m - the distance of the Irish St Leger which Vintage Crop won before coming to Australia. Media Puzzle was a similar type of galloper before he came down for the Cup.

Americain showed in his Geelong Cup win he too had that dash as did his French compatriot Dunaden who blazed a similar trail in the same lead up race.

The really dour overseas stayers don't have the ability to sprint at the end of a 3200m race and have largely been a failure in Australia. Green Moon was raced in Australian interests but was originally a Listed Race winner with Harry Dunlop.

In 2013 the redoubtable Red Cadeaux was second again and in fact the first five home all started their racing careers in Europe while a year later it was the German horse Protectionist who beat old Red again.

2017 saw an all Irish trifecta with a European 3yo taking the prize as Rekindling won for Joseph O’Brien beating his father Aidan home.

It happened again in 2018 as the trifecta went to one country. England scored its first training win as Charlie Appleby gave Godolphin their initial Melbourne Cup success with Cross Counter.

An Aussie fought off a swag of globetrotters in 2019.

Then in 2020 we went back to the global domination as Twilight Payment from Ireland beat Tiger Moth from Ireland with Prince Of Arran from England placed once again despite it being affected by coronavirus attendance.

There were only two to contest in 2021 due to worldwide issues of travel through the pandemic and also concerns that participants expressed regarding test requirements for those entries.

Also in 2022, while now a local being trained by Maher/Eustace, Gold Trip was a French horse who had run in a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe two years before.

So when looking at the imports we should focus on Group performers who have excellent form between roughly 2500m to 3200m.

Year		Horse		Finish		Odds		Margin		Jockey
2022		Deauville Legend		4th		3/1		5.0L		Kerrin McEvoy
		Without A Fight		13th		11/1		21.2L		William Buick
2021		Spanish Mission		3rd		9/1		4.4L		Craig Williams
		Twilight Payment		11th		12/1		19.4L		Jye McNeil
2020		Twilight Payment		WON		25/1		0.4L		Jye McNeil
		Tiger Moth		2nd		11/2		0.4L		Kerrin McEvoy
		Prince Of Arran		3rd		8/1		0.6L		Jamie Kah
		Ashrun		10th		25/1		4.8L		Declan Bates
		Master Of Reality		15th		20/1		10.7L		Ben Melham
		Stratum Albion		20th		30/1		17.9L		Jordan Childs
		Dashing Willoughby		21st		100/1		19.2L		Michael Walker
		Anthony Van Dyck		DNF		9/1		DNF		Hugh Bowman
2019		Prince Of Arran		2nd		16/1		0.2L		Michael Walker
		Il Paradiso		3rd		14/1		0.3L		Wayne Lordan
		Master Of Reality		4th		25/1		0.4L		Frankie Dettori
		Mer De Glace		6th		8/1		1.2L		Damian Lane
		Cross Counter		8th		12/1		1.6L		William Buick
		Magic Wand		10th		25/1		3.6L		Ryan Moore
		Twilight Payment		11th		40/1		3.8L		Hugh Bowman
		Hunting Horn		15th		50/1		4.5L		Seamie Heffernan
		Raymond Tusk		16th		20/1		5L		Jamie Spencer
		Latrobe		18th		20/1		6.5L		James McDonald
		Downdraft		22nd		20/1		8.7L		John Allen
2018		Cross Counter		WON		8/1		1.0L		Kerrin McEvoy
		Marmelo		2nd		11/1		1.0L		Hugh Bowman
		A Prince Of Arran		3rd		20/1		3.0L		Michael Walker
		Rostropovich		5th		20/1		4.5L		Wayne Lordan
		Best Solution		8th		15/1		8.8L		Pat Cosgrave
		Muntahaa		9th		16/1		9.6L		Jim Crowley
		Yucatan		11th		5/1		11.9L		James McDonald
		Nakeeta		12th		80/1		12.0L		Regan Bayliss
		Chestnut Coat		14th		66/1		16.3L		Yuga Kawada
		Magic Circle		16th		6/1		19.8L		Corey Brown
		The Cliffsofmoher		DNF		20/1		DNF		Ryan Moore
2017		Rekindling		WON		14/1		0.4L		Corey Brown
		Johannes Vermeer		2nd		12/1		0.4L		Ben Melham
		Max Dynamite		3rd		20/1		2.9L		Zac Purton
		Nakeeta		5th		40/1		6.5L		Glyn Schofield
		Thomas Hobson		6th		20/1		8.8L		Ben Allen
		Tiberian		7th		30/1		9.3L		Olivier Peslier
		Marmelo		9th		6/1EF		9.9L		Hugh Bowman
		Wicklow Brave		10th		66/1		10.7L		Stephen Baster
		Red Cardinal		11th		15/1		11.5L		Kerrin McEvoy
		Wall Of Fire		16th		10/1		15.8L		Craig Williams
		US Army Ranger		18th		66/1		16.5L		Jamie Spencer
2016		Heartbreak City		2nd		20/1		0.2L		Joao Moreira
		Qewy		4th		20/1		6.8L		Craig Williams
		Beautiful Romance		7th		66/1		8.0L		Damian Lane
		Big Orange		10th		12/1		9.7L		Jamie Spencer
		Oceanographer		12th		8/1		10.2L		Chad Schofield
		Bondi Beach		13th		12/1		11.0L		Ryan Moore
		Secret Number		21st		30/1		22.0L		Stephen Baster
		Wicklow Brave		22nd		15/1		24.0L		Frankie Dettori
		Curren Mirotic		23rd		50/1		27.0L		Tommy Berry
2015		Max Dynamite		2nd		12/1		0.5L		Frankie Dettori
		Trip To Paris		4th		5/1		2.1L		Tommy Berry
		Big Orange		5th		60/1		2.5L		Jamie Spencer
		Quest For More		9th		80/1		4L		Damian Lane
		Fame Game		13th		4/1		6L		Zac Purton
		Bondi Beach		16th		20/1		6.5L		Brett Prebble
		Hokko Brave		17th		40/1		6.5L		Craig Williams
		Kingfisher		19th		60/1		7.5L		Colm O’Donoghue
		Sky Hunter		22nd		30/1		16.5L		William Buick
		Snow Sky		23rd		50/1		18.5L		Ryan Moore
		Red Cadeaux		DNF		25/1		DNF		Gerald Mosse
2014		Protectionist		WON		7/1		4L		Ryan Moore
		Red Cadeaux		2nd		20/1		4L		Gerald Mosse
		Willing Foe		5th		30/1		7L		James McDonald
		Au Revoir		8th		66/1		11L		Glyn Schofield
		Seismos		9th		100/1		12.5L		Craig Newitt
		Gatewood		12th		60/1		15.5L		William Buick
		Mutual Regard		14th		8/1		17.5L		Damien Oliver
		My Ambivalent		17th		30/1		25L		Andrea Atzeni
		Royal Diamond		20th		100/1		48L		Steve Arnold
		Admire Rakti		22nd		9/2		73.5L		Zac Purton
2013		Red Cadeaux		2nd		60/1		0.8L		Gerald Mosse
		Mount Athos		3rd		12/1		2.3L		Craig Williams
		Simenon		4th		20/1		2.5L		Richard Hughes
		Dandino		5th		9/1		3.5L		Ryan Moore
		Brown Panther		8th		20/1		7.3L		Richard Kingscote
		Dunaden		11th		60/1		8.8L		Jamie Spencer
		Royal Empire		14th		20/1		10.5L		Saeed Bin Suroor
		Ruscello		23rd		50/1		56.7L		Chad Schofield
		Verema		DNF		16/1		DNF		Christophe Lemaire
2012		Jakkalberry		3rd		80/1		2.3L		Colm O’Donoghue
		Mount Athos		5th		13/2		3.3L		Ryan Moore
		Red Cadeaux		8th		8/1		6L		Michael Rodd
		My Quest For Peace		10th		16/1		6.3L		Corey Brown
		Americain		11th		13/2		6.7L		Damien Oliver
		Cavalryman		12th		30/1		7.7L		Frankie Dettori
		Dunaden		14th		6/1		10L		Craig Williams
		Galileo’s Choice		20th		15/1		12L		Pat Smullen
2011		Dunaden		WON		15/2		0.1L		Christophe Lemaire
		Red Cadeaux		2nd		30/1		0.1L		Michael Rodd
		Americain		4th		4/1		1.5L		Gerald Mosse
		Manighar		5th		40/1		3L		Damien Oliver
		Lost In The Moment		6th		30/1		3L		William Buick
		Fox Hunt		7th		30/1		3L		Silvestre de Sousa
		Drunken Sailor		12th		40/1		8L		Dwayne Dunn
		Moyenne Corniche		15th		30/1		8L		Brett Prebble
		Saptapadi		16th		80/1		8.5L		Chris Symons
		Jukebox Jury		20th		14/1		17L		Neil Callan
		Modun		23rd		30/1		26L		Kerrin McEvoy
2010		Americain		WON		12/1		3.0L		Gerald Mosse
		Holberg		6th		20/1		6.5L		Frankie Dettori
		Manighar		7th		25/1		9.4L		Damien Oliver
		Illustrious Blue		9th		50/1		11L		Glen Boss
		Mr Medici		10th		60/1		12.5L		Darren Beadman
		Tokai Trick		12th		100/1		13L		Shinji Fujita
		Campanologist		16th		66/1		19L		Kerrin McEvoy
		Profound Beauty		17th		30/1		19.5L		Pat Smullen
2009		Crime Scene		2nd		40/1		0.8L		Kerrin McEvoy
		Mourilyan		3rd		20/1		2.3L		Glyn Schofield
		Munsef		12th		50/1		6.4L		Zac Purton
		Basaltico		18th		25/1		11.5L		Danny Nikolic
2008		Bauer		2nd		20/1		0.1L		Corey Brown
		Profound Beauty		5th		8/1		2.7L		Glen Boss
		Mad Rush		7th		9/2		5.7L		Damien Oliver
		Varevees		14th		100/1		11.3L		Craig Williams
		Septimus		18th		6/1		20.5L		Johnny Murtagh
		Alessandro Volta		20th		40/1		39.5L		Wayne Lordan
		Honolulu		21st		20/1		89.5L		Colm O'Donoghue
2007		Purple Moon		2nd		9/2		0.5L		Damien Oliver
		Tungsten Strike		21st		30/1		53.9L		Darryll Holland
2006		Delta Blues		WON		16/1		0.1L		Yasunari Iwata
		Pop Rock		2nd		5/1EF		0.1L		Damien Oliver
		Land N Stars		5th		200/1		7.6L		John Egan
		Yeats		7th		11/2		8.1L		Keiran Fallon
		Glistening		10th		80/1		10.4L		Scott Seamer
		Geordieland		18th		15/1		28.7L		Frankie Dettori
2005		Vinnie Roe		8th		15/1		5.5L		Patrick Smullen
		Kindjhal		9th		150/1		5.6L		Dwayne Dunn
		Eye Popper		12th		5/1		6.8L		Shinji Fujita
		Grey's Inn		17th		80/1		17.3L		Weichong Marwing
		Distinction		19th		25/1		20.6L		Michael Kinnane
		Hugs Dancer		21st		50/1		29.6L		Nick Ryan
		Franklins Gardens		24th		200/1		PU		Darryll Holland
2004		Vinnie Roe		2nd		5/1		1.3L		Patrick Smullen
		Hugs Dancer		5th		16/1		5.6L		Greg Childs
		Distinction		6th		12/1		7.4L		Darren Beadman
		Mamool		7th		25/1		7.5L		Frankie Dettori
		Razkallen		9th		40/1		9.9L		Kerrin McEvoy
		Media Puzzle		12th		20/1		15.766		Damien Oliver
2003		Jardine's Lookout		3rd		40/1		4.2L		Darryll Holland
		Hugs Dancer		9th		15/1		8.7L		Dean McKeown
		Holy Orders		17th		30/1		16.6L		Davy Condon
		Millstreet		21st		30/1		23.1L		Patrick Payne
		Mamool		23rd		11/2F		PU		Frankie Dettori
2002		Media Puzzle		WON		11/2		2.0L		Damien Oliver
		Beekeeper		3rd		8/1		2.2L		Kerrin McEvoy
		Vinnie Roe		4th		9/2f		3.9L		Pat Smullen
		Jardines Lookout		7th		30/1		7.2L		Paddy Payne
		Dailapour		16th		30/1		15.9L		Michael Kinnane
		Pugin		18th		15/2		23.9L		Frankie Dettori
		Hatha Anna		20th		50/1		28.9L		Richard Hills
		Sandmason		23rd		50/1		41.3L		Stephen Arnold
2001		Give The Slip		2nd		30/1		0.8L		Richard Hills
		Persian Punch		3rd		12/1		6.8L		Tom Quinn
		Marienbard		7th		16/1		8.9L		Frankie Dettori
		Caitano		13th		50/1		18.2L		John Murtagh
2000		Artic Owl		5th		14/1		4.9L		David Harrison
		Enzeli		15th		15/1		25.8L		Greg Hall
		Lightning Arrow		17th		20/1		36.1L		Frankie Dettori
		Far Cry		21th		8/1		55.9L		Kevin Darley
1999		Central Park		2nd		50/1		0.5L		Frankie Dettori
		Travelmate		5th		9/1		1.0L		David Harrison
		Yavana's Pace		12th		30/1		7.2L		Richard Hughes
		Maridpour		20th		66/1		14.6L		Steve Arnold
1998		Persian Punch		3rd		12/1		0.8L		Rodney Quinn
		Taufan's Melody		4th		20/1		1.0L		Patrick Payne
		Yorkshire		5th		33/1		1.1L		Danny Nikolic
		Faithful Son		7th		13/2		4.4L		Frankie Dettori
		Darazari		11th		14/1		7.1L		Opie Bosson
		Sheer Danzig		12th		20/1		7.6L		Damien Oliver
		Peak Of Perfection		17th		330/1		10.8L		Saimie Jumaat
		Three Crowns		FTF		125/1		PU		Simon Price
1997		Harbour Dues		4th		40/1		1.1L		Ray Cochrane
		Arabian Story		6th		25/1		3.7L		Frankie Dettori
1996		Grey Shot		7th		25/1		5.3L		Pat Eddery
		Oscar Schindler		15th		4/1F		8.3L		Michael Kinnane
		Court Of Honour		20th		25/1		13.3L		Simon Marshall
1995		Vintage Crop		3rd		8/1		4.3L		Michael Kinnane
		Double Trigger		18th		7/2F		51.0L		Jason Weaver
1994		Jeune		WON		16/1		1.8L		Wayne Harris
		Vintage Crop		7th		5/1F		6.7L		Michael Kinnane
		River Verdon		20th		80/1		25.0L		John Marshall
		Clivedon Gail		22th		10/1		33.5L		Willie Carson
		Quick Ransom		23rd		7/1		33.6L		Brent Thomson
1993		Vintage Crop		WON		14/1		3.0L		Michael Kinnane
		Drum Taps		9th		8/1		10.4L		Frankie Dettori
1992		Val D'Arno		13th		33/1		15.6L		P Johnson
1991		Ivory Way		5th		6/1		3.5L		Michael Clarke
		Rasheek		6th		25/1		4.5L		Peter Hutchinson
		Al Maheb		7th		16/1		4.8L		Darren Gauci
		Alphabel		16th		40/1		11.3L		Glen Darrington
		Nayrizi		19th		33/1		14.3L		Greg Hall
1990		Kingston Rule		WON		7/1EF		1.0L		Darren Beadman
		Savage Toss		7th		66/1		5.0L		Brian Hibberd
		Water Boatman		19th		10/1		15.0L		Peter Hutchinson
1989		Kudz		3rd		50/1		2.4L		Michael Clarke
		Gopak		12th		16/1		14.0L		Lance O'Sullivan
1988		Natski		2nd		5/1EF		0.1L		Mick Dittman
		Shantaroun		13th		10/1		9.5L		Greg Hall
		Authaal		19th		12/1		14.5L		Brent Thomson
1987		Rosedale		3rd		5/1F		0.6L		John Marshall
1986		At Talaq		WON		10/1		0.4L		Michael Clarke
1984		British		13th		33/1		14.3L		Michael Clarke
1983		Triumphal March		11th		14/1		9.3L		Brent Thomson
		Machtvogel		14th		33/1		11.0L		P Jarman
1982		Triumphal March		15th		15/1		9.0L		Brent Thomson
1980		Beldale Ball		WON		11/1		1.5L		John Letts
		Bohemian Grove		21st		10/1				Mick Mallyon
1978		Panamint		10th		9/1				Roy Higgins