Racing Victoria keen to attract Queen's Dartmouth for Melbourne Cup

Racing Victoria's international recruitment officer Leigh Jordon has revealed that Hardwicke Stakes winner Dartmouth, owned by the Queen, is top of his wishlist for the Melbourne Cup as he embarks on his annual expedition to attract European talent down under in the autumn.

Jordon will spend three weeks in Europe, visiting Britain, Ireland, France and Germany, but his main target is to attract a royal presence in the Melbourne Cup for only the second time.

"I'd love to get Dartmouth to Australia," Jordon said. "For one, I think he’s the right sort of horse, and to have the Queen’s horse come to Australia in the year of her 90th birthday would be fantastic."