Any doubts that the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is the pre-eminent thoroughbred horse racing event in the World have been dispelled by the quality of the international nominations for this year’s carnival.

No fewer than 13 of the World’s top 50 ranked thoroughbreds have nominated for the carnival that will culminate in the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November. The Cup itself has attracted 256 nominations including 49 from overseas.

But if there is a downside to the continued internationalisation of the Melbourne Cup, and major races such as the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup, then the major races are likely to be a punter’s nightmare given the excellent rankings enjoyed by so many of the international horses, many of which will be racing here for the first time.

Last year Japanese horses — Delta Blues and Pop Rock — ran first and second in the Cup, and they will be back again along with another three or four high-raced Japanese thoroughbreds.

And for the first time Canada will be represented. Sky Conqueror, which won a group one race on Kentucky Derby Day, is making the trip.

The nominations for the carnival include the world’s third ranked horse, Dylan Thomas, winner of the 2006 Irish Derby and three other group one races. And the world’s leading stables, Godolphin, has nominated a powerful team, including Laverock, who is by the Australian champion of the 1990s, Octagonal.

While the record nomination of 46 international horses for the Spring Racing Carnival adds interest, it might just be an Australian horse that steals the limelight in the events leading up to the cup itself.

Haradasun, in which a half share was recently sold for $22 million, making him Australia’s most valuable stallion prospect, went down in his comeback race last Saturday, but with three group one races to his credit, he will be a star of the Carnival, as will Miss Finland.

But the Australian star might well be yet another champion from Western Australia — Marasco, trained by Fred Kersley, who also trained the great Northerly, the winner of two Cox Plates and a Caulfield Cup.

Marasco resumed racing in Perth last Saturday and carried a massive 60kg to record an outstanding win in the Belmont Newmarket. Marasco is heading towards the Cox Plate in October and will be a crowd favourite.

More intrigue will be added to the Carnival when the multi-million dollar new Flemington track is used for the first time on Saturday, 8 September.

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