The 2022 Melbourne Cup is still more than three months away, but there is already plenty of debate about which horses will contest the prestigious race.
European raiders have fared well in recent seasons, with trainers in the United Kingdom and Ireland winning three of the last five renewals.
Joseph O’Brien (2) and Charlie Appleby are the men who have got their names on the roll of honour during that period.
With that in mind, this online guide about the Melbourne Cup takes a closer look at four potential European runners who could be live contenders this year.
Grand Alliance
The Charlie Fellowes-trained three-year-old is likely to be amongst the nominations for the Melbourne Cup and would be strongly fancied to run a big race.
Grand Alliance finished 11th in the Epsom Derby behind Desert Crown, before narrowly missing out on a Group 2 success at Royal Ascot.
The lightly raced son of Churchill came with a withering run in the King Edward VII Stakes, before veering off a straight line to finish second behind Changingoftheguard.
Fellowes talked up Grand Alliance’s Melbourne Cup hopes after that run and this tricky customer has the talent to shine at Flemington Racecourse.
Kyprios
Leading Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien is yet to win the Melbourne Cup despite sending several fancied runners in recent years.
His Tiger Moth was backed off the boards in 2020, but was unable to catch the Joseph O’Brien-trained Twilight Payment in the home stretch.
This year’s Ascot Gold Cup winner Kyprios could rectify matters, although his participation isn’t assured given the other options at O’Brien’s disposal.
Kyprios undoubtedly has the necessary mix of speed and stamina to be competitive in the Melbourne Cup and could run a big race if given the chance.
Camorra
Camorra headlined a treble for trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane as he powered home in the Comer Group International Curragh Cup recently.
The five-year-old posted a career best effort in lifting the Group 2 heat, reeling in the front-running Gear Up in the final furlong.
Part-owner David Spratt contacted Lyons straight after the race to suggest a tilt at the Melbourne Cup, although the trainer is reluctant to take the horse Down Under.
Given that Spratt is the man partly paying the bills, it would be no surprise to see Camorra line-up at Flemington in November.
Kemari
Trainer Charlie Appleby has several possible options for this year’s Melbourne Cup as he bids to add to his 2018 success with Cross Counter.
Appleby has got a few horses with a similar profile to Cross Counter, with 2021 Queen’s Vase winner Kemari perhaps the pick of the bunch.
He was nominated for a possible Melbourne Cup run last year, but Appleby resisted the temptation and campaigned the horse in Europe.
Kemari was second behind stablemate Rebel’s Romance on his most recent outing at Newmarket and has the right credentials to run in the Melbourne Cup.
Michael specializes in journalism, digital content production and social media management. He has a passion for numerous sports including football, horse racing and ice hockey. Michael currently works on a freelance basis, producing daily content for various outlets within the sports industry.
