A total of 124 nominations have been taken for the 2016 Melbourne Cup (3200m); to run be on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington Racecourse.
Reigning champion Prince Of Penzance has been included in 2016 Melbourne Cup nominations. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Won in a boil over by $101 outsider Prince Of Penzance last year, 2016 Melbourne Cup nominations are down sixteen on the race’s 2015 edition, however the depth of local and international talent included suggests it will again be the Spring Carnival highlight.
Prince Of Penzance undoubtedly found his pet distance and conditions in last year’s Race that Stops a Nation, and has been included in 2016 Melbourne Cup nominations by trainer Darren Weir.
Posting a career total of seven wins and nine minors through twenty-six starts, Prince Of Penzance resumed last spring for eighth in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) before placing fifth in the Gold Nugget Handicap (1600m) at Ballarat.
Again finishing fifth in the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m), the Pentire gelding ran eighth in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) and second in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) before flying home from nowhere to win the Melbourne Cup.
Having only made two competitive appearances in 2016 so far, Prince Of Penzance is one of eleven Melbourne Cup nominations lodged by leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir.
Thirty-one internationals have been included in 2016 Melbourne Cup nominations, including Japanese staying star Curren Mirotic.
The stable star for trainer Osamu Hirata, Curren Mirotic has claimed six wins and a further twelve minors through a busy thirty-six start career since debuting in 2010, and is a proven performer at both the class and distance of the Melbourne Cup.
Resuming in March this year for a credible sixth in the Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten (3000m), the Heart’s Cry gelding progressed to second behind Kitasan Black in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m) before a luckless run for eleventh in the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) on June 26th.
Japanese stayers have a good record in the Melbourne Cup, however a number of notable omissions from 2016 nominations include last year’s early favourite Fame Game and widely-rumoured nominee Albert.
Willie Mullins saddled Max Dynamite to a close second in the Flemington feature last year, but the Great Journey gelding is another notable omission from 2016 Melbourne Cup nominations.
Mullins is set to be represented during the Spring Carnival again however, after he included both Clondaw Warrior and Wicklow Brave in Melbourne Cup 2016 nominations.
A strong and consistent performer over the hurdles this year, Clondaw Warrior earned a Melbourne Cup nomination off the back of a strong performance for second in the Group 3 American St Leger (2716m) at Arlington on August 13th.
Wicklow Brave has also been included in 2016 Caulfield Cup nominations, and the gelding has posted a number of impressive results through recent months including a credible third in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3299m) on August 19th; beating home the likes of Trip To Paris.
Order Of St George remains an $11 favourite in early betting markets at Ladbrokes Australia after also being included in 2016 Melbourne Cup nominations.
2016 Melbourne Cup Nominations
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31x221x66x | ALMANDIN (GER) | G | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 97 |
| 2 | 01x9065x8x | ALMOONQITH (USA) | H | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 105 |
| 3 | 212x1x7x | ALOFT (IRE) | H | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 90 |
| 4 | 12x26x5x6x | ALPINE EAGLE | H | 5 | Tony McEvoy | 103 |
| 5 | 69x603116x | AMEXED (NZ) | G | 6 | Tony Gollan | – |
| 6 | 146x511x | ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | – |
| 7 | 03x8148x0x | ARAB DAWN (GB) | G | 6 | John O’Shea | 99 |
| 8 | x5x8x1153x | ASSIGN (IRE) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 92 |
| 9 | 1x0x00915x | AUTHORITARIAN | G | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 74 |
| 10 | 60x406x46x | AZURITE (IRE) | G | 6 | Tony McEvoy | 76 |
| 11 | 23x111321x | BARSANTI (IRE) | G | 5 | Roger Varian | – |
| 12 | 1x22x | BATTLECAMP (NZ) | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 66 |
| 13 | 13x | BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE (GB) | M | 5 | Saeed Bin Suroor | – |
| 14 | 1x8331x07x | BERISHA | G | 5 | Robert Smerdon | 97 |
| 15 | 7x5x23x11x | BIG ORANGE (GB) | G | 6 | Michael Bell | – |
| 16 | 7x7814251x | BOLD SNIPER (GB) | G | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 96 |
| 17 | 1220x11x3x | BONDI BEACH (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien | – |
| 18 | 0Dx13x312x | CLONDAW WARRIOR (IRE) | G | 10 | William Mullins | – |
| 19 | 5x1321213x | COOL CHAP | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | – |
| 20 | 2x1x2x3x | CURREN MIROTIC (JPN) | G | 9 | Osamu Hirata | – |
| 21 | 1x1x | DA BIG HOSS (USA) | H | 6 | Michael J Maker | – |
| 22 | 6324210x8x | DANDY GENT | G | 5 | Terry & Karina O’Sullivan | 86 |
| 23 | 872188512x | DANE HUSSLER | M | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 73 |
| 24 | 5212246x5x | DANJEU (IRE) | G | 6 | John P Thompson | – |
| 25 | 23x10x003x | DARLUX (FR) | G | 6 | Brian McGrath | 64 |
| 26 | 16x7733x8x | DE LITTLE ENGINE | G | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 93 |
| 27 | 1246x3269x | DEE I CEE (NZ) | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | – |
| 28 | 0x3121x22x | DIVAN (NZ) | G | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 86 |
| 29 | 43x433191x | DREADED (NZ) | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 65 |
| 30 | 1x11x2x | ELITE ARMY (GB) | G | 6 | Saeed Bin Suroor | – |
| 31 | x456x9253x | ERUPT (IRE) | H | 5 | Francis-Henri Graffard | – |
| 32 | x97170x96x | ESCADO | G | 7 | Matt Laurie | 101 |
| 33 | 572217x20x | EXCESS KNOWLEDGE (GB) | H | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 106 |
| 34 | 1413x1835x | EXOSPHERE (GB) | H | 5 | Sir Michael Stoute | – |
| 35 | 110010x90x | EXTRA CHOICE (NZ) | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 71 |
| 36 | x13057741x | FANATIC (NZ) | M | 4 | Graeme Sanders | – |
| 37 | 2x009x830x | FOUNDRY (IRE) | G | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 97 |
| 38 | 143x60x46x | FRANCIS OF ASSISI (IRE) | G | 7 | Charlie Appleby | – |
| 39 | 35x8421x7x | GABELLA (FR) | M | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 93 |
| 40 | x0069x031x | GALLANTE (IRE) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | – |
| 41 | 3x08533x7x | GRAND MARSHAL (GB) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | – |
| 42 | 32x1837x8x | GREY LION (IRE) | H | 5 | Matt Cumani | – |
| 43 | 98046x000x | GUST OF WIND (NZ) | M | 5 | John Sargent | – |
| 44 | 4x2117x8x | HANS HOLBEIN (GB) | H | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 92 |
| 45 | x4650x5x2x | HARTNELL (GB) | G | 6 | John O’Shea | – |
| 46 | 28x332722x | HAURAKI | G | 5 | John O’Shea | – |
| 47 | 1x | HEARTBREAK CITY (FR) | G | 7 | Tony Martin | – |
| 48 | 2231122x4x | HEAVENS ABOVE | M | 5 | Tim Martin | – |
| 49 | 8x41211x1x | HE’S OUR ROKKII (NZ) | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 99 |
| 50 | 5070x67x5x | HI WORLD | H | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 99 |
| 51 | 5x2134412x | HOUSESOFPARLIAMENT (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | – |
| 52 | 212111134x | HOWARD BE THY NAME | H | 4 | Darren Weir | – |
| 53 | 14x23321x | IDAHO (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | – |
| 54 | – | IMPORTANT MESSAGE (GB) | H | 5 | Saeed Bin Suroor | – |
| 55 | 1x45324x4x | JAMEKA | M | 4 | Ciaron Maher | 105 |
| 56 | 9x6x1164x | KILIMANJARO (IRE) | G | 5 | Robert Hickmott | 90 |
| 57 | 2322x0117x | KINEMA (IRE) | G | 6 | Ralph Beckett | – |
| 58 | 14141x994x | LORD DISICK | G | 5 | Michael Moroney | – |
| 59 | 36x163x | LORD MACAU | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 64 |
| 60 | x05x26x34x | MANATEE (GB) | H | 6 | John O’Shea | – |
| 61 | 3673x7689x | MANNDAWI (FR) | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 94 |
| 62 | x976144x3x | MASTER ZEPHYR (GB) | G | 5 | Darren Weir | 88 |
| 63 | 2622114x8x | MIME (NZ) | M | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | – |
| 64 | 10x3419x1x | MISS ROSE DE LAGO | M | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 105 |
| 65 | 653113x67x | NOZOMI | G | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 86 |
| 66 | x1x0x0730x | OBSERVATIONAL (GB) | G | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 97 |
| 67 | – | OCEANOGRAPHER (GB) | G | 5 | Charlie Appleby | – |
| 68 | 62x083111x | O’LONERA | G | 4 | Cindy Alderson | 81 |
| 69 | 7x23240x6x | ORBEC (FR) | G | 6 | John P Thompson | – |
| 70 | 2111x11x1x | ORDER OF ST GEORGE (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien | – |
| 71 | 9230x5501x | OUR IVANHOWE (GER) | H | 7 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | – |
| 72 | x131130x9x | PEMBERLEY (NZ) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 82 |
| 73 | x00111132x | PENTATHLON (NZ) | G | 5 | John Wheeler | – |
| 74 | 615x05212x | PLYMOUTH ROAD (NZ) | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 66 |
| 75 | 1907x4110x | PREFERMENT (NZ) | H | 5 | Chris Waller | 115 |
| 76 | 55821x2x0x | PRINCE OF PENZANCE (NZ) | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 113 |
| 77 | x0800x111x | PROTECTIONIST (GER) | H | 7 | Andreas Wohler | – |
| 78 | 416x411x0x | PROVOCATIVE (NZ) | M | 4 | Tony Pike | 102 |
| 79 | 03x165x17x | QEWY (IRE) | G | 7 | Charlie Appleby | – |
| 80 | x232x1114x | RAW IMPULSE (GB) | H | 5 | Darren Weir | 90 |
| 81 | 333132114x | REAL LOVE | M | 6 | Darren Weir | 108 |
| 82 | 22x1113x | RED CARDINAL (IRE) | G | 5 | Andreas Wohler | – |
| 83 | 6x94121x | REPLIQUE (NZ) | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | – |
| 84 | x063540x2x | RISING ROMANCE (NZ) | M | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 107 |
| 85 | 675462102x | ROSE OF VIRGINIA (NZ) | M | 7 | Lee & Shannon Hope | 88 |
| 86 | 817x9x399x | RULING DYNASTY | H | 5 | James Cummings | – |
| 87 | 816113x88x | SACRED MASTER (NZ) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | – |
| 88 | 3x1412x | SARRASIN (GB) | H | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 95 |
| 89 | 33x153413x | SCHERZOSO | G | 5 | Tony McEvoy | 89 |
| 90 | 2251x3121x | SCOTTISH (IRE) | G | 5 | Charlie Appleby | – |
| 91 | 122x323x5x | SECOND BULLET | G | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 93 |
| 92 | 213141x24x | SECOND WAVE (IRE) | G | 5 | Charlie Appleby | – |
| 93 | 5361x2x12x | SECRET NUMBER (GB) | G | 7 | Saeed Bin Suroor | 105 |
| 94 | 0x25305x9x | SET SQUARE | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 105 |
| 95 | 2x2124x00x | SHAMKIYR (FR) | G | 6 | Darren Weir | 90 |
| 96 | 1x2110x0x | SHIMRANO (GER) | H | 5 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | – |
| 97 | 4x8xD21x0x | SIGNOFF (IRE) | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 107 |
| 98 | 32x145x22x | SINGING (FR) | H | 7 | Kris Lees | – |
| 99 | 4212x1322x | SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD (IRE) | G | 8 | John P Thompson | – |
| 100 | 6xD1x1x20x | SKY HUNTER (GB) | G | 7 | Saeed Bin Suroor | – |
| 101 | 447204x77x | SPIRITJIM (FR) | H | 7 | Chris Waller | – |
| 102 | 34x29x | STONE WARRIOR (NZ) | G | 4 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | – |
| 103 | 32314x797x | STORM THE STARS (USA) | H | 5 | Chris Waller | – |
| 104 | 2157134x6x | SWACADELIC (GER) | G | 6 | Aaron Purcell | 94 |
| 105 | 3x213115x | SWORD FIGHTER (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | – |
| 106 | 4821x7x00x | TALL SHIP (IRE) | G | 6 | Darren Weir | 100 |
| 107 | 5x11113x0x | TALLY | H | 4 | John O’Shea | 98 |
| 108 | 31x4214x8x | TARZINO (NZ) | H | 4 | Mick Price | 109 |
| 109 | 2113061x | TAVAGO (NZ) | G | 4 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 108 |
| 110 | 410x81642x | THE BANDIT (JPN) | H | 5 | John Sadler | 78 |
| 111 | x43114326x | THE MAJOR GENERAL (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | – |
| 112 | 2610x5212x | THE UNITED STATES (IRE) | H | 7 | Robert Hickmott | 111 |
| 113 | 004451176x | THUNDER DOWN UNDER | H | 4 | Chris Waller | – |
| 114 | 171x110x2x | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | G | 6 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 97 |
| 115 | 5x0x51709x | TOSEN STARDOM (JPN) | H | 6 | Darren Weir | 108 |
| 116 | 135240x34x | TRIP TO PARIS (IRE) | G | 6 | Ed Dunlop | – |
| 117 | 121x | TRIP TO RHODOS (FR) | G | 8 | Pavel Tuma | – |
| 118 | 026850555x | TUNES | G | 8 | Grant Young | – |
| 119 | – | UNICORN (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | – |
| 120 | x2x1145x5x | VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) | G | 5 | Michael Moroney | 78 |
| 121 | 124x91259x | WHITE DOLLAR SIGN | G | 5 | John Thom | 65 |
| 122 | 1x90324x6x | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | – |
| 123 | 3333x2643x | WICKLOW BRAVE (GB) | G | 8 | William Mullins | – |
| 124 | 2x0071x07x | ZANTECA (NZ) | M | 7 | Darren Weir | 93 |
