European runners command attention in Melbourne Cup

The Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Australia on Tuesday will have a significant European feel, continuing a trend in recent years.

Of the 24 runners in the two-mile race, 14 have raced in Europe this year. There are nine horses in the field that have been based in Australia in 2019 and one from Japan.

European-based trainers have won the last two runnings – Rekindling for trainer Joseph O’Brien of Ireland in 2017 and Cross Counter for Charlie Appleby of England last year.

The last horse to have a full campaign in Australia in a year that included a Melbourne Cup win was Almandin in 2016. Almandin raced in Europe in 2014 and did not race in 2015.

This year’s field is led by the former Aidan O’Brien-trained Constantinople, who was second in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, England, in August and fourth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse in his Australian debut on Oct. 19.

In the Great Voltigeur Stakes for Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds, Constantinople was beaten by Logician, who later won the Group 1 St. Leger Stakes for 3-year-olds in September.

Now trained by the partnership of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Constantinople was the 13-2 favorite in future-book wagering on Sunday. Training partnerships are permitted in Australia.

Constantinople won the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at The Curragh in Ireland in May and was second in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot in England in June.

The $5.3 million Melbourne Cup is a handicap. Constantinople will carry 116 pounds, 11 less than topweight Cross Counter, who was fourth in the Group 1 Irish St. Leger at The Curragh on Sept. 15.

Other top contenders are Mer de Glance, Vow and Declare, and Finche, who were first, second and fourth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Caulfield Racecourse on Oct. 19.

There are two mares in the race – Magic Wand and Youngstar. Magic Wand was second in the Arlington Million to eventual Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Bricks and Mortar in August for Aidan O’Brien.

Joseph O’Brien has a starter in the Melbourne Cup in Downdraft, who won Saturday’s Group 3 Hotham Handicap at 1 9/16 miles at Flemington and makes a fast turnaround.

The Melbourne Cup is a national sporting holiday in Australia. Post time is 11 p.m., Eastern, and 8 p.m. Pacific on Monday.