British hopes West Wind Blows and Deauville Legend feature in Caulfield Cup nominations

Several European and Japanese raiders are expected to target this year's Caulfield Cup as nominations for the coveted handicap were revealed on Tuesday.

The Group 1 has been without an international runner since 2020, but that could change this year with horses trained in Britain, Europe and Japan featuring among the 175 nominations for the $5 million race.

Racing Victoria's international recruiter Paul Bloodworth said connections of last year's Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend and Hardwicke Stakes runner-up West Wind Blows have identified the race as a likely spring aim.

"We've been having a lot of conversations with James Ferguson about Deauville Legend and his plans for later in the year," Bloodworth said. "He was very disappointing in the King George at Ascot a couple of weeks ago, but all is well according to James and he's suggested we put a line through that run.

"He is seemingly committed to coming back to Melbourne but with a slight change of plan – he nominated the horse for Cox Plate at the last minute yesterday –but in our conversations it's always been the Caulfield Cup spoken about as his main aim."

Another British-trained horse who could make the trip to Australia is West Wind Blows, who was last seen finishing third of four in the Eclipse behind superstar three-year-old Paddington.

West Wind Blows: third in the Eclipse last monthCredit: Grossick Racing

"Simon and Ed Crisford are pretty much committed to coming for the Caulfield Cup as their main target," Bloodworth said. "Like Romantic Warrior, it's looking like they will possibly come earlier and contest the Turnbull Stakes as a lead-up to the race."

The Melbourne Racing Club's executive director of racing and operations Jake Norton said he was particularly excited by the nominations of Japanese duo Breakup and Win Mighty. From only limited participation, Japanese horses Admire Rakti and Mer De Glace have won the Caulfield Cup in the past decade.

"It's great to see nominations from Japan in Breakup and Win Mighty," he said. "We haven't had Japanese participation at Caulfield for quite a few years now but obviously their record speaks for itself.

"I think those kind of horses – not the very top echelon but certainly competitive at Group level – are generally in the shake-up of most races, particularly the handicaps here."

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