Irish raiders target big Australian races

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Mars and Willie Mullins' Simenon, who was last seen finishing second in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, are among the entries for the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, two of the feature events of the Australian calendar later this year.

Jockey/trainer Johnny Murtagh could have an Australian runner in his first training season as Royal Diamond is on the list for the Caulfield Cup along with Dermot Weld's Voleuse De Coleurs.

The contests, which form part of Racing Victoria's Spring Carnival meeting, are run on October 26 and October 19 respectively with plenty of European challengers in contention.

Last week's Goodwood winner Forgotten Voice and the globetrotting Red Cadeaux are also entered for the Cox Plate. Forgotten Voice was a Group Three winner in Sussex last week and his trainer, champion National Hunt handler Nicky Henderson, has given him the option of this mile and a quarter heat.

Andrew Balding's Side Glance, the Hughie Morrison-trained Chil The Kite, David Lanigan's Main Sequence, Guest Of Honour from Marco Botti's yard and Jane Chapple-Hyam's Mull Of Killough hold entries.

French runners Maxios, Hammerfest, Mandour and Trevieres complete a list of 12 European entries in the Cox Plate that also features last year's Melbourne Cup hero Green Moon, the highly-rated It's A Dundeel and top mare Atlantic Jewel.

A total of 158 horses have been nominated for that race with 173 nominated for the Caulfield Cup over a mile and a half.

Green Moon is in that race too, as are all but Side Glance, Mull Of Killough , Guest Of Honour and Chil The Kite.

Ed Dunlop's Red Cadeaux is the headline British-trained entry while Lanigan also has Biographer in the reckoning and Botti has entered Dandino and Jakkalberry.

William Haggas has entered Sun Central and Stencive, who was beaten by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Opinion at Royal Ascot and that one is also entered.

French possibles include Only A Pleasure, Top Trip and Trevieres while Very Nice Name is also in the frame.

Nevis, who was last seen winning the Lingfield Derby Trial for Aidan O'Brien is entered but is now listed as trained by Australian handler Robert Hickmott.