NOMINATIONS for the 163rd edition of the Melbourne Cup were released on Tuesday revealing 15 international horses alongside the 117 local entries. Leading the international entries are the O’Briens, Aidan has five; Alexandroupolis, Broome, Denmark, Greenland and Tower Of London, while Joseph has entered Okita Soushi, St Vincents Garden and Valiant King.

Still at the head of the pre-post markets though is the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban whose stablemate Absurde is also nominated.

Dermot Weld has a touch of synchronicity though. On the 30th anniversary of Vintage Crop’s famous win, Weld has nominated the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes Stakes winner Harbour Wind. Trainers from England and Japan have also nominated runners, though there are none from Europe.

International Melbourne Cup nominations.

Absurde (Fr), Willie Mullins

Alexandroupolis (Ire), Aidan O’Brien

Breakup (Jpn), Tatsuya Yoshioka

Broome (Ire), Aidan O’Brien

Denmark (GB), Aidan O’Brien

Desert Hero (GB), William Haggas

Greenland (Ire), Aidan O’Brien

Harbour Wind (Ire), Dermot Weld

Okita Soushi (Ire), Joseph O’Brien

Scriptwriter (Ire), Milton Harris

St Vincents Garden (Ire), Joseph O’Brien

Tower Of London (Ire), Aidan O’Brien

Valiant King (GB), Joseph O’Brien

Vauban (Fr), Willie Mullins

West Wind Blows (Ire), Simon & Ed Crisford