Hard Buck an Oz nominee

Hard Buck is one of four American-trained horses nominated to the $3.24 million Melbourne Cup on Nov. 2 at Flemington Racecourse.

Hard Buck's trainer, Ken McPeek, recently returned from Ascot, where Hard Buck finished second in the 1 1/2-mile King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. McPeek also nominated Gorylla to the Cup, Australia's famous two-mile handicap. Meanwhile, Wally Dollase has nominated his Manhattan Handicap winner, Meteor Storm, and Jim Cassidy has added the name of his Sheepshead Bay Handicap winner, Moscow Burning.

The four Americans are among 51 foreigners nominated. Heading the European nominees are the Dermot Weld-trained pair of Media Puzzle and Vinnie Roe, the first and fourth finishers in the 2002 Melbourne Cup.

McPeek has has also nominated Hard Buck and Gorylla to the $1.5 million Caulfield Cup, a 1 1/2-mile race at Caulfield on Oct. 1. Bobby Frankel has nominated Denon to the race. Gorylla and Denon have also been included in the list of nominees to the $2.1 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Oct. 23.