The 2014 Caulfield Cup remains on track to have a record number of international participants after sixteen overseas-trained horses were included in the first acceptances for the Group 1 event.

Fawkner remains a chance of becoming the first horse since Rising Fast in 1955 to win the Caulfield Cup in back-to-back years. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
The Japanese-trained duo of Admire Rakti and Bande have already entered quarantine in Japan and they are set to arrive in Australia on September 20 to begin preparations for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Admire Rakti is likely to carry the top weight of 58 kilograms in the Caulfield Cup, after he was allocated 56 kilograms by Racing Victoria Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter last week, and he will be ridden by Zac Purton, while Melbourne Cup winning jockey Christophe Lemaire has been booked to ride Bande.
Dandino and Red Cadeaux both failed to fire in the Group 3 September Stakes (2414m) at Kempton Park on September 6, but both remain in contention to arrive in the first shipment of European-trained runners in Australia and run in the Caulfield Cup.
Marco Botti is not overly keen to run Dandino in the Caulfield Cup, but he could still have multiple runners in the race after both Seismos and Renew were included in the first acceptances.
The Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) is expected to be the major 2014 Spring Racing Carnival goal for Dan Excel, but he remains in contention to run in the Caulfield Cup, despite being allocated 57 kilograms.
Dan Excel has produced his best form from a mile to 2000 metres and has never run in a race longer than 2011 metres, making a tilt at the Group 1 handicap over 2400 metres unlikely for the Singapore Airlines International Cup winner.
Staying mare Ambivalent, Andre Fabre-trained Au Revoir, Gai Waterhouse-owned Café Society, consistent mare Just The Judge, Aphrodite Stakes winner Noble Protector, German star Protectionist, Mackinnon Stakes winner Side Glance and OTI-owned Van Percy are the other overseas-trained gallopers that remain a chance of running in the Caulfield Cup.
The Macedon Lodge team of Lloyd Williams won the 2013 Caulfield Cup with Fawkner and the high-profile operation is set to have a strong hand in the Caulfield Cup once again.
Fawkner is unlikely to be given the opportunity to defend his Caulfield Cup crown and has been set for the Cox Plate, but the likes of 2012 Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon, the talented Sea Moon and the recently imported Almandin could contest the Group 1 event at Caulfield on October 11 after they got into the race well in the weights.
Another Group 1 winner that got into the Caulfield Cup well in the weights is four-time Group 1 winning mare Silent Achiever and she has also been included in the Caulfield Cup first acceptances, while the likes of Dear Demi, Hawkspur, Moriarty, Mr O’Ceirin and Royal Descent remain a chance of contesting the race for the second year in a row.
Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer resumed with a strong effort in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes on Saturday and remains on track to contest the Caulfield Cup, while new race favourite Lucia Valentina was also among the first acceptances after her scintillating first-up win in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m).
Progressive stayer Entirely Platinum, imported galloper Our Voodoo Prince, last start winner St Jean, popular grey Puissance De Lune, Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance, Queensland galloper Teronado and Heatherlie Handicap winner Stipulate were also among the 2014 Caulfield Cup first acceptances.
Full Caulfield Cup First Acceptances
– | Horse | Trainer | Weight | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DAN EXCEL (IRE) | John Moore | 57kg | 2 |
2 | ADMIRE RAKTI (JPN) | Tomoyuki Umeda | 56kg | 3 |
3 | FAWKNER | Robert Hickmott | 56kg | 3 |
4 | RED CADEAUX (GB) | Ed Dunlop | 55.5kg | 3.5 |
5 | DANDINO (GB) | Marco Botti | 55kg | 4 |
6 | GREEN MOON (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 55kg | 4 |
7 | SEA MOON (GB) | Robert Hickmott | 55kg | 4 |
8 | BANDE (IRE) | Yoshito Yahagi | 54.5kg | 4.5 |
9 | FORETELLER (GB) | Chris Waller | 54.5kg | 4.5 |
10 | PROTECTIONIST (GER) | Andreas Wohler | 54.5kg | 4.5 |
11 | SIDE GLANCE (GB) | Andrew Balding | 54.5kg | 4.5 |
12 | SILENT ACHIEVER (NZ) | Roger James | 54.5kg | 3 |
13 | THE OFFER (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse | 54.5kg | 4.5 |
14 | PUISSANCE DE LUNE (IRE) | Darren Weir | 54kg | 5 |
15 | SEISMOS (IRE) | Marco Botti | 54kg | 5 |
16 | TERRUBI (IRE) | David Payne | 54kg | 5 |
17 | HAWKSPUR | Chris Waller | 53.5kg | 5.5 |
18 | MORIARTY (IRE) | Chris Waller | 53kg | 6 |
19 | ROYAL DESCENT | Chris Waller | 53kg | 4.5 |
20 | SERTORIUS | Jamie Edwards & Bruce Elkington | 53kg | 6 |
21 | STAR ROLLING | Peter Morgan & Craig Widdison | 53kg | 6 |
22 | AMBIVALENT (IRE) | Roger Varian | 52.5kg | 5 |
23 | DEAR DEMI | Clarry Conners | 52.5kg | 5 |
24 | GATEWOOD (GB) | John Gosden | 52.5kg | 6.5 |
25 | PAKAL (GER) | Mick Price | 52.5kg | 6.5 |
26 | PRECEDENCE (NZ) | Bart & James Cummings | 52.5kg | 6.5 |
27 | PUCCINI (NZ) | Peter & Jacob McKay | 52.5kg | 5 |
28 | BAGMAN | Chris Waller | 52kg | 7 |
29 | IBICENCO (GER) | Peter G Moody | 52kg | 7 |
30 | JUNOOB (GB) | Chris Waller | 52kg | 7 |
31 | MR O’CEIRIN (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | 52kg | 7 |
32 | OUR VOODOO PRINCE (GB) | Chris Waller | 52kg | 7 |
33 | SANGSTER (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 52kg | 7 |
34 | SPILLWAY (GB) | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 52kg | 7 |
35 | STIPULATE (GB) | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 52kg | 7 |
36 | VOLEUSE DE COEURS (IRE) | Michael Moroney | 52kg | 5.5 |
37 | BRAMBLES (NZ) | Peter G Moody | 51.5kg | 7.5 |
38 | CONTRIBUTER (IRE) | John O’Shea | 51.5kg | 7.5 |
39 | CRACKERJACK KING (IRE) | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 51.5kg | 7.5 |
40 | ENTIRELY PLATINUM (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 51.5kg | 7.5 |
41 | JUST THE JUDGE (IRE) | Charles Hills | 51.5kg | 6 |
42 | LIDARI (FR) | Peter G Moody | 51.5kg | 7.5 |
43 | MASKED MARVEL (GB) | Robert Hickmott | 51.5kg | 7.5 |
44 | OPINION (IRE) | Chris Waller | 51.5kg | 7.5 |
45 | SLOW PACE (USA) | Kris Lees | 51.5kg | 7.5 |
46 | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | Chris Waller | 51.5kg | 7.5 |
47 | ARALDO (GB) | Michael Moroney | 51kg | 8 |
48 | AU REVOIR (IRE) | Andre Fabre | 51kg | 8 |
49 | BONFIRE (GB) | Gai Waterhouse | 51kg | 8 |
50 | FOUNDRY (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 51kg | 8 |
51 | KINGDOMS (NZ) | Brian Smith | 51kg | 8 |
52 | KIRRAMOSA (NZ) | John Sargent | 51kg | 5 |
53 | LUCIA VALENTINA (NZ) | Kris Lees | 51kg | 5 |
54 | RISING ROMANCE (NZ) | Donna Logan | 51kg | 5 |
55 | SCAPOLO (NZ) | Kevin Myers | 51kg | 8 |
56 | TUPAC AMARU | John O’Shea | 51kg | 6.5 |
57 | ZEPHYRON (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 51kg | 8 |
58 | CAFE SOCIETY (FR) | David Simcock | 50.5kg | 8.5 |
59 | LE ROI (GER) | Tony McEvoy | 50.5kg | 8.5 |
60 | VAN PERCY (GB) | Andrew Balding | 50.5kg | 8.5 |
61 | ALBONETTI | Sue Jaensch | 50kg | 9 |
62 | ALI VITAL (NZ) | Robbie Laing | 50kg | 9 |
63 | ANCIENT KING (IRE) | Peter G Moody | 50kg | 9 |
64 | AY NO DIGAS (GER) | Kris Lees | 50kg | 9 |
65 | BEST CASE (NZ) | Anthony Cummings | 50kg | 9 |
66 | BEYOND THANKFUL (IRE) | Chris Waller | 50kg | 9 |
67 | BIG MEMORY (FR) | Tony McEvoy | 50kg | 9 |
68 | BRING SOMETHING | Ken Keys | 50kg | 9 |
69 | CAILLEBOTTE (IRE) | Mick Price | 50kg | 9 |
70 | CANNY BALLAD | Joseph Pride | 50kg | 9 |
71 | CARAVAN ROLLS ON (GB) | Danny O’Brien | 50kg | 9 |
72 | CELTIC PRINCE (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | 50kg | 9 |
73 | COUNT OF LIMONADE (IRE) | Mick Price | 50kg | 9 |
74 | DANCHAI (GB) | Chris Waller | 50kg | 9 |
75 | DARK THUNDER (NZ) | Robbie Laing | 50kg | 9 |
76 | DEANE MARTIN (NZ) | Bruce Wallace | 50kg | 9 |
77 | DON DOREMO (NZ) | Robbie Laing | 50kg | 9 |
78 | EPINGLE (NZ) | Michael Kent | 50kg | 7.5 |
79 | EVANGELIST (GB) | Tony McEvoy | 50kg | 9 |
80 | FLEURISSIME | Trevor Rogers | 50kg | 9 |
81 | GALLATIN | John O’Shea | 50kg | 8.5 |
82 | GAMBLIN’ GURU | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | 50kg | 8 |
83 | GOLDONI (IRE) | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 50kg | 9 |
84 | GREATWOOD (GB) | Gai Waterhouse | 50kg | 9 |
85 | GRIS CARO (GB) | Jake Stephens | 50kg | 9 |
86 | HE’S YOUR MAN (FR) | Chris Waller | 50kg | 9 |
87 | JACQUINOT BAY | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 50kg | 9 |
88 | KINCAPLE (NZ) | Mark Webb | 50kg | 9 |
89 | LA AMISTAD | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 50kg | 7.5 |
90 | LET’S MAKE ADEAL | Nigel Blackiston | 50kg | 8.5 |
91 | LIVERY (IRE) | Robert Smerdon | 50kg | 9 |
92 | MANDURO’S SON (IRE) | Michael Moroney | 50kg | 9 |
93 | MARKSMANSHIP (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 50kg | 9 |
94 | MARTIAN (IRE) | Tony McEvoy | 50kg | 9 |
95 | MASSIYN (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 50kg | 9 |
96 | MOBACO (FR) | Darren Weir | 50kg | 9 |
97 | MORE THAN SACRED | Robert Smerdon | 50kg | 8.5 |
98 | MULTILATERAL (USA) | Chris Waller | 50kg | 9 |
99 | NOBLE PROTECTOR (GB) | Stuart Kittow | 50kg | 8 |
100 | OMINOUS (GB) | Nigel Blackiston | 50kg | 9 |
101 | ORIENTAL LADY (GER) | Kris Lees | 50kg | 9 |
102 | PINSTRIPE LANE (NZ) | Leon & Troy Corstens | 50kg | 7.5 |
103 | PRINCE OF PENZANCE (NZ) | Darren Weir | 50kg | 9 |
104 | QUAYSIDE | Peter G Moody | 50kg | 9 |
105 | RENEW (IRE) | Marco Botti | 50kg | 9 |
106 | SHIKARPOUR (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 50kg | 9 |
107 | SIGNOFF (IRE) | Darren Weir | 50kg | 9 |
108 | SOLICIT | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | 50kg | 6.5 |
109 | ST JEAN (IRE) | Aaron Purcell | 50kg | 9 |
110 | TERONADO | Bruce W Hill | 50kg | 8.5 |
111 | TEXT’N HURLEY | Colin Little | 50kg | 8.5 |
112 | THE UNITED STATES (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | 50kg | 9 |
113 | THOUGHT WORTHY (USA) | Robert Hickmott | 50kg | 9 |
114 | TRADE COMMISSIONER (IRE) | Chris Waller | 50kg | 9 |
115 | TREMEC (NZ) | John P Thompson | 50kg | 9 |
116 | TRISTRAM’S SUN (NZ) | Robbie Laing | 50kg | 9 |
117 | UNCHAIN MY HEART | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 50kg | 8.5 |
118 | VILANOVA (NZ) | Chris Waller | 50kg | 7.5 |
119 | WISH COME TRUE (IRE) | Peter G Moody | 50kg | 9 |
120 | WROTHAM HEATH (GB) | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 50kg | 9 |
121 | ZANBAGH | Patrick Payne | 50kg | 6 |