Ballot may rule Brit trio out of Cup prep race

The first three British raiders intent on lifting the Melbourne Cup in November arrive in Australia this weekend, but could miss an intended prep race in the Caulfield Cup.

Luca Cumani's pair Mad Rush and Bauer along with Godolphin's All The Good are set to arrive in Melbourne on Saturday but, while entry fees were paid for the trio today, they could be balloted out of the race on 18 October.

The Caulfield Cup has a maximum of 18 runners and Mad Rush is equal 20th on the list with All The Good 22nd and Bauer needing a miracle to gain a run as he is down in 45th place.

Cumani was planning on using the Caulfield Cup as a springboard for a Melbourne Cup tilt, as he did with Purple Moon when that horse finished second in the "race that stops a nation" last November.

He said: "Mad Rush will spend three weeks in quarantine and then, like Purple Moon, he will run in the Caulfield Cup as a prep race for the Melbourne Cup."

The trio could still benefit from horses being withdrawn from the Caulfield Cup but the winners of four races still to be run would be given ballot-free entries to the Group 1 £1.1 million handicap.

Cumani is hoping the lessons he learned from Purple Moon's gallant effort last year will stand his contenders in good stead.

He added: "It would be disappointing if you never learned anything from previous experiences, and I hope we learned enough from last year to give us the best possible chance of winning."

Mad Rush, All The Good and Bauer would head for the Geelong Cup if they are balloted out of the Caulfield Cup.