By MIKE DILLON
World champion trainer Saeed Bin Suroor was not joking when he said he was determined to win the Melbourne Cup.
Suroor promised to be back when he suffered the heartbreaking disapointment of seeing Kayf Tara break down on the eve of last year's Melbourne Cup, when just about everyone had conceded the race to him.
The world's most extensive and powerful training operation, Gololphin, which retains Suroor as private trainer, has entered a record 13 horses for this year's Cup
Missing is Central Park, who went close to providing Godolphin with a back-up win last year when he finished second to Rogan Josh, but included is one of the stable's best horses, Fantastic Light.
Last weekend Fantastic Light finished second to Montjeu, regarded as the best horse in the world, in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.
Godolphin has nominated all 13 for the Cox Plate and Caulfield and Melbourne cups.
Another highly regarded Golophin entry is Mutafaweq, winner of the group one Deutchland Preis (2400m) in Europe at the weekend.
Also entered are Gracioso, who defeated Montjeu at Longchamp last year, Nowhere To Exit, runner-up to Montjeu in the French Derby and State Shinto, place behind Greek Dance at group one level in Munich last week.
Because there is always an element of doubt this far out from the spring carnival over which European horses will make the trip to the Southern Hemipshere, Melbourne's Double Bet has New Zealand mare Showella as Melbourne Cup favourite at 12-1.
"That could change dramatically when we know for sure who is coming here," said book manager Brian Taylor.
"Any indication Fantastic Light or Mutafaweq are definitely coming and they will probably start favourite. Both have world class credentials."
Bookmakers are hoping highly rated Greek Dance makes the trip to take on Sunline in the Cox Plate, the only race he has been nominated for in Australia.
"He's really a bit of something," said Taylor. "Everyone we talk to in Europe rates him at the very top."
Greek Dance is prepared by Sir Michael Stoute, regarded as the world's best trainer at travelling horses internationally.
Sunline remains Cox Plate favourite at 5-1 ahead of Greek Dance and Tie The Knot on 7-1. Fantastic Light, Might And Power and Sky Heights follow on 9-1.
Racing Victoria's general manager Greg Nichols said he was delighted with the level of Northern Hemisphere entries
"We are pleased with both the quantity and quality. We will be working very hard to ensure a strong representation.
Nichols said Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford had indicated the stable would definitely have runners in all three features, but would not elaborate.
"The stable keeps things very much to themselves, but they have reiterated they are very keen to win the Melbourne Cup."
Racing: Suroor's returning because he has to have that Cup
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