The James Cummings trained Hartnell is the high profile Australian trained stayer among the nominations for the 2017 Caulfield Cup which includes twenty-two overseas horses.

Hartnell, above, is among the nominations for the 2017 Caulfield Cup at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Hartnell, above, is among the nominations for the 2017 Caulfield Cup at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Group 1 $3.15m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 21 continues to attract plenty of overseas interest among the total of 142 nominations received by the Melbourne Racing Club today.

Hartnell, who races in the Godolphin royal blue colours, finish second to Winx in the 2016 Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley before running third to Almandin in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.

Cummings and the Godolphin Team will follow a different path this year and have pencilled in the Caulfield Cup as Hartnell’s main Spring Carnival goal and the multiple Group 1 winner has kicked off his campaign with a first up win in the Group 2 $200,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 19.

Cummings has also nominated Etymology and Tally who is exempt from the ballot for the Caulfield Cup after winning the Listed $300,000 Ladbrokes Mornington Cup (2400m) at Mornington on March 25.

RV Executive General Manager – Racing, Greg Carpenter explained that the lower numbers for this year’s Caulfield Cup were due to the fact the deadline was put back three weeks from last year (170 nominations) to August 29, the same day as the nominations for the Melbourne Cup, and he was happy to have a big name like Hartnell among the entries.

“We’re delighted with the nominations for this year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with international representation once again very strong. To have entries from seven international jurisdictions for our two premier handicaps is a great advertisement for the Spring Racing Carnival and Victorian racing,” Carpenter said.

“This month’s impressive Lawrence Stakes winner Hartnell heads the entries for the Caulfield Cup and we’d be delighted if James Cummings and Godolphin took up the challenge this year after electing to contest the Cox Plate last year in which he finished runner-up to Winx.”

Godolphin’s English trainer Charlie Appleby has nominated Kidmenever and last year’s Melbourne Spring Carnival winner Francis Of Assisi who took out the Group 3 $300,000 Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) at Bendigo and the Group 3 $300,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington.

Victoria’s leading trained Darren Weir has nominated twenty horses for the Caulfield Cup, head up by Australian Cup winner Humidor, Japanese import Admire Deus and South Australian Derby victor Volatile Mix.

Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller will have plenty on his plate sorting out his ten Caulfield Cup nominations that are headed by his dual Oaks winner Egg Tart.

Egg Tart proved herself to be a stayer of the future with her wins in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Oaks (registered as Australasian Oaks) (2000m) at Morphettville and in the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben.

Ireland’s leading trainer Aidan O’Brien has two entries for the Caulfield Cup, Johannes Vermeer and US Army Ranger while his son Joseph has nominated the Group 2 Curragh Cup winner Rekindling.

Kiwi trainer Murray Baker, who now trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman, won the Caulfield Cup with Mongolian Khan in 2015 and will have a strong chance to collect his second winning trophy with Australian Oaks winner Bonneval, Australia Derby winner Jon Snow and the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes winner Lizzie L’Amour among the nominations.

Cranbourne based Jackie Beriman has nominated Miss Cavatica and has created history by becoming the first person holding a trainer-jockey licence to enter a horse for the Caulfield Cup.

First acceptances for the 2017 Caulfield Cup close at 12 noon on Tuesday, 26 September.

Nominations for the 2017 Caulfield Cup (2400m)

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 11x8400x7x ABBEY MARIE M 5 Michael Kent 97
2 31214x423x ADMIRAL JELLO G 5 Kris Lees –
3 39x260x34x ADMIRE DEUS (JPN) H 7 Darren Weir –
4 1x665111x2 ALMANDIN (GER) G 8 Robert Hickmott –
5 7x39x12x1x ALOFT (IRE) G 6 Robert Hickmott –
6 12634×5411 ALWARD (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller –
7 11x4214x8x AMELIE’S STAR M 6 Darren Weir –
8 x0x0D71x0x AMRALAH (IRE) H 8 Robert Hickmott 104
9 172233183x ANA ROYALE M 4 Stuart Webb 91
10 11x354965x ANAHEIM H 4 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 78
11 771135104x ANNUS MIRABILIS (IRE) G 7 Stuart Webb 100
12 12x1240x5x ANTONIO GIUSEPPE (NZ) G 5 Chris Waller –
13 45x12x323x APILOBAR (FR) H 5 Markus & Stephanie Nigge –
14 15x0x010x5 ARTICUS (FR) G 6 Darren Weir 105
15 3x9210x71x ASSIGN (IRE) G 7 Robert Hickmott 105
16 0x5008641x AUVRAY (FR) G 7 Richard Freedman –
17 13212x322x BARSANTI (IRE) G 6 Roger Varian –
18 331x073x0x BERISHA G 6 Robert Smerdon 98
19 1121113x5x BIG DUKE (IRE) G 6 Darren Weir 104
20 x11x330x9x BONDI BEACH (IRE) G 6 Robert Hickmott –
21 1x5P31111x BONNEVAL (NZ) M 4 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman –
22 11516510×3 BOOM TIME H 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 103
23 31x65123x8 BROADSIDE (NZ) G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
24 0x4231245x CHANCE TO DANCE (IRE) G 8 Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards –
25 22122612x CHARLES ROAD G 4 Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott –
26 2×89141355 CHARLEVOIX G 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 83
27 121x37301x CHOCANTE (NZ) G 5 Stephen Marsh –
28 122×232521 CISMONTANE (NZ) G 5 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 83
29 21x5338x1x COMIN’ THROUGH H 4 Chris Waller –
30 265225223x COOL CHAP G 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 93
31 x1x1x21x3x CROCODILE ROCK (IRE) G 6 Robert Hickmott 79
32 3131x616x6 DAL HARRAILD (GB) G 5 William Haggas –
33 5111619x DAWN WALL M 4 Chris Waller –
34 9x228x8x01 DEE I CEE (NZ) G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
35 x8583x080x DON DOREMO (NZ) G 7 Robbie Laing 82
36 431x11111x EGG TART M 4 Chris Waller –
37 9065227x3x ETYMOLOGY G 5 James Cummings –
38 100×402611 EUREKA STREET G 4 Robert Smerdon 71
39 31x12435x FALCON WINGS (GB) H 4 Nicolas Clement –
40 0184260x5x FANATIC (NZ) M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 92
41 314112132x FIRENZE M 6 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 86
42 0x533x0x03 FOUNDATION (IRE) G 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig –
43 x830x33x2x FOUNDRY (IRE) G 8 Robert Hickmott 95
44 0x46x11x8x FRANCIS OF ASSISI (IRE) G 8 Charlie Appleby –
45 x181x37x0x GAILO CHOP (FR) G 7 Darren Weir –
46 9x031x270x GALLANTE (IRE) G 7 Robert Hickmott 105
47 4121x3811x GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (FR) H 5 Darren Weir –
48 214x GAUGUIN (NZ) G 4 John Sargent –
49 1x4011115x GINGERNUTS (NZ) G 4 Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards –
50 x820x076x0 GREY LION (IRE) H 6 Matt Cumani 94
51 x80x621x0x GUARDINI (FR) H 7 Darren Weir 104
52 x00x4131x5 HANS HOLBEIN (GB) G 6 Robert Hickmott –
53 3670x6713x HARDHAM H 4 David Brideoake 96
54 92384x386x HARLEM (GB) H 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 100
55 62x34340x4 HARLOW GOLD (NZ) M 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 93
56 23x2822x1x HARTNELL (GB) G 7 James Cummings –
57 41670x910x HEAVENS ABOVE M 6 Tim Martin –
58 10x8747x4x HE’S OUR ROKKII (NZ) G 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 107
59 9x42212x6x HUMIDOR (NZ) G 5 Darren Weir –
60 136x621x3x IMPOSING LASS (NZ) M 5 Bjorn Baker –
61 33x5126x6x INFERENCE H 4 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes –
62 1x3x45712x JOHANNES VERMEER (IRE) H 5 Aidan O’Brien –
63 893337311x JON SNOW (NZ) H 4 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman 108
64 x9x173511x KELLSTORM (IRE) H 5 Darren Weir –
65 624x42x32x KIDMENEVER (IRE) H 5 Charlie Appleby –
66 x1164x362x KILIMANJARO (IRE) G 6 Robert Hickmott 89
67 62x10x3x8x KILMACURRAGH (NZ) G 5 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 68
68 1x027530x0 LASQUETI SPIRIT M 4 Lee Curtis –
69 841x122x2x LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE) G 6 Chris Waller –
70 1228x4x90x LIZARD ISLAND G 5 Pat Hyland 88
71 x16151021x LIZZIE L’AMOUR (NZ) M 5 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman –
72 21155x515x LORD FANDANGO (GER) H 5 Archie Alexander –
73 79520449×0 LORD VAN PERCY (GB) G 8 Darren Weir 89
74 1213×00943 LORESHO (FR) H 7 Darren Weir 89
75 000x0x770x MAGICOOL G 6 Tony Romeo –
76 1232x1521x MARMELO (GB) H 5 Hughie Morrison –
77 4x3131456x MASK OF TIME (IRE) H 4 Ciaron Maher –
78 44x306321x MASTER ZEPHYR (GB) G 6 Darren Weir 89
79 59028x337x MAURUS (GB) G 7 John P Thompson –
80 21x2x30x9x MAX DYNAMITE (FR) G 8 William Mullins –
81 097x33103x MISS CAVATICA M 4 Jackie Beriman 58
82 8x1130109x MONGOLIAN WOLF G 4 Darren Weir –
83 35x2111x0x MONTOYA’S SECRET M 4 Leon & Troy Corstens –
84 Px21221x4x MORE TO GAIN G 5 Amanda Turner & Mauro Poletti –
85 123116×243 NATURAL SCENERY (GB) M 5 Saeed Bin Suroor –
86 631x NETTOYER M 4 Wendy Roche –
87 1483x1x NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) G 4 Darren Weir 66
88 24x431431x ONCIDIUM RULER G 6 Michael Kent 83
89 2x513x412x OUR CENTURY (IRE) G 7 Robert Hickmott 93
90 186×315111 PACODALI (IRE) G 5 Darren Weir –
91 379x97860x PENTATHLON (NZ) G 6 John Wheeler –
92 x931422x6x PERFECT RHYME M 4 Ron Leemon –
93 84x4x8038x PRINCE CHERI (FR) H 9 David Vandyke 97
94 x2114x906x PRIZE MONEY (GB) G 5 Saeed Bin Suroor –
95 114x4197x8 RAW IMPULSE (GB) H 6 Darren Weir 95
96 35x137x822 RED GALILEO (GB) G 7 Saeed Bin Suroor –
97 1642x6574x RED VERDON (USA) H 5 Ed Dunlop –
98 210x14012x REKINDLING (GB) H 4 Joseph O’Brien –
99 11x1380x0x RISQUE (NZ) M 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 95
100 48442x315x RIVEN LIGHT (IRE) G 6 William Mullins –
101 6748x111x ROMAN SON G 4 Anthony & Edward Cummings –
102 x34353251x RUDY G 7 Helen Page –
103 41231x2x2x SAMOVARE M 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 77
104 x1412x3x5x SARRASIN (GB) H 6 Chris Waller –
105 1x6321220x SAVILE ROW (NZ) H 4 Michael Moroney 98
106 0x1212112x SAYED (USA) G 5 Chris Waller –
107 54282x060x SEABURGE H 4 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 105
108 x166214x27 SECOND BULLET G 7 Danny O’Brien –
109 4x12x3361x SENSE OF OCCASION G 7 Kris Lees –
110 353324658x SHALMANESER G 7 Richard Litt –
111 5x227x090x SINGING (FR) H 8 Kris Lees –
112 x70312612x SINGLE GAZE M 5 Nick Olive 108
113 3114407x5x SIR ISAAC NEWTON (GB) G 6 Robert Hickmott 106
114 1x SIXTIES GROOVE (IRE) G 5 Andreas Wohler –
115 44x4030x2x SO SI BON H 4 Robbie Laing 86
116 090x73553x SOFIA ROSA (NZ) M 5 Stephen Marsh –
117 480x35011x SOUND PROPOSITION (NZ) G 6 Kris Lees –
118 532x2112x SPANISH REEF M 4 Ken Keys 71
119 21130x22x3 ST MICHEL (GB) H 5 Sir Mark Prescott –
120 11x212411x STAMPEDE H 5 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
121 1211x12x9x STAR EXHIBIT G 6 Darren Weir –
122 46557x135x STEEL OF MADRID (IRE) H 5 Tony McEvoy –
123 7405142142 SUPER HAZE (IRE) G 6 Tony McEvoy 82
124 8x311x TAIKOMOCHI G 4 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott –
125 3x37710x2x TALLY G 5 James Cummings 105
126 61x00x518x TAVAGO (NZ) G 5 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young –
127 x9P01712x7 THOMAS HOBSON (GB) G 8 William Mullins –
128 31221x9x TIAMO GRACE M 4 Darren Weir 84
129 522x0121x6 TIME TO TEST G 7 Tony McEvoy –
130 23x6905x2x TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) G 7 Chris Waller –
131 11×333233 TRAVELLING MAN (GB) G 5 Freddy Head –
132 5241x32x1x UP ’N’ ROLLING (NZ) G 5 Chris Waller –
133 428x32038x US ARMY RANGER (IRE) H 5 Aidan O’Brien –
134 52482x542x VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) G 6 Michael Moroney 93
135 8601121x5x VENTURA STORM (IRE) H 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 106
136 x64462434x VIOLATE H 4 Brent Stanley 76
137 5x5174126x VOLATILE MIX (NZ) H 4 Darren Weir –
138 11x6248x2x WALL OF FIRE (IRE) H 5 Hugo Palmer –
139 1513059x WHEAL LEISURE M 4 Archie Alexander –
140 10x814244x WICKLOW BRAVE (GB) G 9 William Mullins –
141 x21x6D130x YANKEE ROSE M 4 David Vandyke 108
142 168x21131x YOGI (NZ) G 5 Darren Weir 80

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.