Cima De Triomphe - Basaltico - Kirklees - Crime Scene

THE AGE
Andrew Eddy
September 26, 2009

FOUR international horses arrive in Melbourne this morning and while none of the quartet have the form or the reputation of other overseas assaults on the Melbourne Cup, you know instantly that this is no pie-in-the-sky dream for their stables.

Twice beaten into second place in previous Melbourne Cups, both Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin stable and that of Newmarket trainer Luca Cumani know well the task they face in conquering the unique distance handicap.

The horses were due to touch down at dawn today after a 24-hour flight from England, before being sent into three weeks' mandatory quarantine at the Sandown racecourse. There they will join Singapore's champion mare Jolie's Shinju, who arrived in August to be prepared for the Cox Plate.

Cumani sent out quality galloper Cima De Triomphe, who is aimed at both the Caulfield and Melbourne cups, and the still-emerging Basaltico, who probably has to win a race like the Geelong Cup on the way to clinching a Melbourne Cup start.

Godolphin will be represented by Kirklees, a winner of his last three runs in England, as well as by older galloper Crime Scene. Both have entries for the two major cups, as well as the Cox Plate.

Remarkably, given their stables' history of near misses, bookmakers are reporting little action on the four in the Melbourne Cup. Cima De Triomphe, who will be ridden by Damien Oliver, has firmed in recent days to $21, but Kirklees at $31, Basaltico at $61 and Crime Scene at $151, have so far been all but friendless.

Cumani trained Purple Moon in 2007 to a brave second behind Efficient and last year Bauer was hailed the winner by many as he hit the line locked with Bart Cummings' Viewed, with the latter horse holding an advantage of a few centimetres.

It was Cummings who foiled Godolphin's attempt in 1999 when Rogan Josh outstayed Central Park and it took the champion staying mare Ethereal to deal with Give The Slip two years later.

But while the major prize of the Melbourne Cup has eluded both stables, Godolphin and Cumani are coming off last-start wins in Australia. Last spring, All The Good caused an upset when Kerrin McEvoy guided him to a historic Caulfield Cup victory for Sheikh Mohammed and just 11 days later Bauer picked up a $135,000 cheque with his Geelong Cup victory.

A second flight into Melbourne from England is due on October 10 and is expected to carry two-time Melbourne Cup-winning Irish trainer Dermot Weld's class mare Profound Beauty. Sir Michael Stoute's stayer Warringah, who will be trained in Australia by Sydney trainer Chris Waller, and the former Aiden O'Brien-trained Changingoftheguard, who was bought this month by leading Australian trainer David Hayes, are also expected to be aboard. Older stayers Mourilyan and Munsef will also make the flight. This contingent cannot contest the Caulfield Cup as they would not be permitted to leave quarantine until three days before the Melbourne Cup.