Seven international Cup contenders enter quarantine for first Melbourne flight

Seven overseas-trained horses have entered pre-export quarantine in England and Ireland ahead of the first international flight carrying contenders for the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival.

The group is scheduled to leave for Melbourne on September 27 after two weeks in quarantine. Each horse is nominated for the $6 million Caulfield Cup over 2400 metres on October 17 and the $10 million Melbourne Cup 17 days later.

Joseph O’Brien has four horses in the shipment: Kizlyar, Omni Man, Small Fry and Starford. Roger Varian’s Enfjaar, Harry Charlton’s Wine Dark Sea and Ciaron Maher’s Point Of Law make up the rest of the group.

“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,” Racing Victoria head of racing Paul Bloodworth said.

Kizlyar, Omni Man, Small Fry, Starford and Enfjaar are quarantining in Ireland. Wine Dark Sea and Point Of Law entered isolation in England.

All seven horses have passed compulsory distal-limb scans and completed two physical veterinary examinations under Racing Victoria’s pre-travel protocols. A final examination must be completed during quarantine before they can travel.

The September 27 schedule allows the group to complete post-arrival quarantine before the Caulfield Cup. The first shipment represents seven of the 23 internationally trained horses among 101 Melbourne Cup nominations.

O’Brien accounted for 11 of those Melbourne Cup entries and lodged 15 nominations when the Caulfield Cup attracted 124 horses. He is seeking a third Melbourne Cup after winning with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020.