72 horses remain in the hunt to contest the 2014 Melbourne Cup after first acceptances were released by Racing Victoria this afternoon.

Turnbull Stakes winner Lucia Valentina is one of 72 horses that has been included in the 2014 Melbourne Cup first acceptances. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Japanese stayers Admire Rakti and Bande have been in Australia for almost a month and they both remain in the Melbourne Cup entries and will make their Australian racing debuts in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18.

European stayers Dandino, Lord Van Percy, Mutual Regard, My Ambivalent, Red Cadeaux, Amralah, Protectionist, Seismos and Renew have also already arrived in Australia and have been included in the Melbourne Cup acceptances, while the likes of Cavalryman, Gatewood, Royal Diamond are confirmed to make the trip to Melbourne and are currently serving their quarantine requirements at Newmarket in England.

The Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) has become one of the most important lead-up races to the Group 1 Melbourne Cup and a number of horses coming out of the Group 1 event that was held at Flemington on Saturday.

Lucia Valentina stormed home late to record an impressive win in the Turnbull Stakes and stamp herself as a genuine contender for both the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup and has the chance to become the first horse since Let’s Elope in 1991 to win the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup in the same year.

The Peter Moody-trained duo of Lidari and Brambles finished second and third in the Turnbull Stakes and both remain in the Melbourne Cup entries, but popular grey Puissance De Lune has been removed from Melbourne Cup calculations after pulling up sore following Saturday’s race.

The Offer produced another credible performance to finish sixth in the Turnbull Stakes and remains close to the top of Melbourne Cup betting markets, while Stipulate, Saab Hasan-trained Shoreham, Kiwi mare Silent Achiever, Chelmsford Stakes winner Hawkspur, imported stayer Gris Caro, staying mare Let’s Make Adeal and 2012 winner Green Moon are the other horses to run in the Turnbull Stakes that have been included in the Melbourne Cup first acceptances.

Chris Waller pair Junoob and Opinion fought out the finish in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday and they have been included in the 2014 Melbourne Cup first acceptances, while third placegetter Araldo also looks to be on track for ‘the race that stops a nation’.

Other notable horses included in the 2014 Melbourne Cup first acceptances include Cox Plate favourite Fawkner, Makybe Diva’s three-quarters sister La Amistad, veteran stayer Precedence and The Bart Cummings winner Who Shot Thebarman.

Spillway was heavily backed heading into The Metropolitan, but was never able to get into the race and has been removed from the Melbourne Cup entries, while the connections of Epsom Handicap winner He’s Your Man, imported stayer Café Society and New Zealand Derby winner Puccini have also ruled their horses out of the Melbourne Cup.

Second acceptances for the Melbourne Cup will be taken on October 27 before the final field and barrier draw are released at the end of Victoria Derby Day on November 1.