Racing: Europeans dominate the Cup

Cup aspirant Showcause is ranked 65th. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Australians used to be worried about us winning the Melbourne Cup.

Now we are flat out getting into the magnificent race, let alone winningit.

Racing Victoria's Melbourne Cup man Leigh Jordan is tipping double-digit European horses in this year's Melbourne Cup.

If that figure is 10, that leaves 14 remaining spots.

There are several qualifying races for the Cup to be run in Melbourne, plus Lion Tamer gets in because he qualified by winning last year's Victoria Derby.

Currently we have Red Ruler, Harris Tweed (fifth in the past two Melbourne Cups) and Lion Tamer in the race.

As an example of how difficult it is to get into the Melbourne Cup, New Zealand's champion stayer of last season Showcause is 65th in order of qualification.

"Admittedly, there are at least half a dozen on the list above us that you know won't run, but to get in the field we're going to have to win the Lexus [on Derby Day three days earlier] to make the Cup field," said trainer Frank Ritchie.

The Lexus winner is an automatic entry.

Showcause won the New Zealand Cup, City Of Auckland Cup and Avondale Cup, before finishing second to Titch in the $1 million Stella Artois Auckland Cup.

In 1998, the Auckland Cup winner from that year, Jezabeel, won the great race.

It's not that long ago that form would have not only have guaranteed a Melbourne Cup start, the horse would have been in the first four favourites.

In its clamour to make the Melbourne Cup an international race, the Victoria Racing Club is closing in on making it a European race.

If the time difference didn't prevent it, imagine us having 14 runners in the English Derby.

Yeah, right.