Jardine eyeing Melbourne Cup bid for Ebor hero Nakeeta

A trip from Dumfries to Flemington could await Nakeeta after trainer Iain Jardine revealed he is considering an audacious tilt at the Emirates Melbourne Cup for last weekend's Ebor winner.

The six-year-old gained the biggest win of his career at York last Saturday and he is now in the frame to contest Australia's signature race on November 7.

Last year's ill-fated Ebor winner Heartbreak City so nearly won the Melbourne Cup, losing by a head to Almandin, and Jardine is open to sending Nakeeta on the journey to Australia.

"We'll have a good hard think about it," the trainer said on Tuesday. "It's fantastic prize-money, the horse is in good shape and it's great to have a horse who'd be good enough to go to these types of races and would be going there with a bit of a chance."

Nakeeta was part of a large, and strong, European contingent of entries for the race released on Tuesday, with Godolphin trainers Charlie Appleby and Saeed Bin Suroor holding multiple entries.

Francis Of Assisi and Qewy are among Appleby's contenders, while Bin Suroor has Natural Scenery and Winning Story among his possibles.

Aidan O'Brien has entered Order Of St George, Johannes Vermeer and US Army Ranger, while son Joseph has Rekindling in the list. Wicklow Brave could return for another crack for Willie Mullins, who has also entered Max Dynamite.

Ed Dunlop, Hughie Morrison, Marco Botti and Sir Mark Prescott all have contenders among the 140 entries, and Racing Victoria's executive general manager Greg Carpenter hailed the strength of the potential international challenge.

"We're delighted with the nominations for this year's Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with international representation once again very strong," he said.

"To have entries from seven international jurisdictions for our two premier handicaps is a great advertisement for the Spring Racing Carnival and Victorian racing.

"I am very encouraged by the number of international trainers with entries who have not travelled to Melbourne before, and we look forward to welcoming them here and showcasing what the Spring Racing Carnival has to offer."

Several of the international contenders entered for the Melbourne Cup also hold the BMW Caulfield Cup entry – that race is on October 21.

Weights for both races will be unveiled on September 12.

Melbourne Cup entries

Caulfield Cup entries

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