First batch of International Cup entries enter quarantine

Joseph O'Brien quartet Kizlyar, Omni Man, Small Fry and Starford entered alongside Roger Varian's Enfjaar in Ireland, while the Harry Charlton-trained Wine Dark Sea and Ciaron Maher's Point Of Law were isolated in England.

All are entered for both the $6 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17 and the $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) 17 days later and have passed Racing Victoria's necessary veterinary protocols to this point.

"The first seven international horses targeting the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival yesterday entered pre-export quarantine in the UK and Ireland where they will remain for two weeks prior to travelling to Melbourne," RV head of racing Paul Bloodworth said.

"All seven hold nominations for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and have satisfied RV's pre-travel veterinary protocols, passing a compulsory scan of their distal limbs and completing two physical veterinary examinations so far - they must undergo a final examination in PEQ."

Being in the first shipment, which is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne on the final weekend of this month, enables horses to participate in the Caulfield Cup.

Last-start Group 3 Glorious Stakes (2414m) winner Enfjaar and Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2715m) winner Wine Dark Sea are the shortest-priced international contenders in this year’s Caulfield Cup, ahead of O’Brien’s Omni Man and Starford. Point Of Law, previously trained by John and Thady Gosden, will join the Ciaron Maher stable.

Small Fry is no certainty to contest the Caulfield Cup with O'Brien and owners OTI also considering a start in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), while Varian is not committed to a Lexus Melbourne Cup start with Enfjaar, who could run in the Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes (2000m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

There were also Lexus Melbourne Cup developments over the weekend with Highwayman racing up betting charts following victory in the Group 1 English St Leger (2921m) at Doncaster on Saturday night, Australian time.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Trustyourinstinct finished fourth beaten four-and-a-half lengths behind star Aidan O'Brien-trained stayer, Scandinavia in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) at the Curragh. Trustyourinstinct holds a nomination for the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

The 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival begins with Howden Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 31 October, followed by Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 3 November, Crown Oaks Day on Thursday 5 November and TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 7 November. For more information and to purchase tickets visit vrc.com.au.

The full list of nominations for the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup can be found here.

Key Milestone Dates for 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup