Joseph O’Brien squad heads international nominations for Caulfield Cup

A total of 124 horses have been nominated for the 150th Caulfield Cup, with the $6 million feature attracting 24 Group 1 winners.

Chris Waller has the largest representation with 18 entries, while Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien has 15 nominations as he bids to add the Caulfield Cup to his Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate successes.

O’Brien’s leading contenders include last year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up Goodie Two Shoes and Epsom Derby placegetter James J Braddock, while Royal Ascot winner Limestone and Group 2 Curragh Cup winner Trustyourinstinct are other potential travellers.

His father Aidan has entered just one horse, Group 2 King Edward Stakes winner Causeway, with his best Caulfield Cup result coming when Anthony Van Dyck finished second in 2020.

Reigning champion Half Yours heads the Group 1 winners entered and could attempt to join Rising Fast as a back-to-back winner after completing the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double last spring.

The first six horses home in last year’s Caulfield Cup are among the entries again, with Australian Cup winner Light Infantry Man, Doomben Cup winner Birdman, Buckaroo and Cosmic Crusader adding further depth.

The four-year-old contingent is headed by ATC Australian Derby winner Green Spaces, trained by Bjorn Baker, with six of the 12 locally trained horses in that age group already Group 1 winners.

The Caulfield Cup will be run on October 17.