Foreign invaders target the Cup

By Stuart Teather
SANDOWN Racecourse has become the base for a foreign attack on Australia’s most famous race.
A legion of foreign horses has found its way to Sandown Quarantine Centre to prepare an assault on this year’s Spring Carnival, and the invaders have already claimed one victim.
Godolphin-trained All The Good surprised pundits to win the Caulfield Cup, a remarkable victory for a horse that went into the race at $41.
The English stayer’s win in the Caulfield Cup means he will take an extra two-kilogram penalty into the Melbourne Cup, putting him at 55kg.
But All The Good is just one warrior among many at Sandown preparing for the Melbourne Cup.
High profile international trainers Aidan O’Brien, Luca Cumani and Saeed Bin Suroor (Godolphin) all have runners at the Sandown facility and all are searching for their breakthrough Melbourne Cup victory.
All The Good is bunking alongside favourite Septimus, an O’Brien-trained Irish stayer who will carry 58.5kg – and the expectation of victory – into the $5 million race on November 4.
Septimus carries an impressive resume, with eight wins from 12 starts, including his most recent race, a 13-length victory in the 2800m Irish St Leger.
Another international at Sandown, Cumani-trained Mad Rush, is second favourite for the big race after finishing fourth in the Caulfield Cup.
Mad Rush placed in each of eight starts in his career before the Caulfield Cup, with his most recent result a second placing in the 3000 metre Prix Kergolay in France.
It remains to be seen whether the locals can repel the overseas invaders, with hopes riding on John Sadler’s champion stayer, defending champion Efficient, and Nigel Blackiston’s Littorio leading the charge.
The arrival of All The Good and Mad Rush at the Sandown facility on September 28 caused a small skirmish of its own, with the race meet originally planned for Sandown that day having to be moved due to quarantine concerns.
The Melbourne Racing Club originally moved the meet to Seymour, drawing an angry response from local trainers, before the Victorian Racing Club stepped in and made Flemington available.