Cambridge trainer Tony Pike was savouring the last few hours of a brief Queenstown getaway on Wednesday before the focus switches to overseeing his team...
Racing Victoria international scout Paul Bloodworth is optimistic some overseas horses will compete at the spring carnival but he admits it is a long shot.
Cross Counter is one of 11 northern hemisphere-trained horses in this year's Melbourne Cup and is striving to become the first dual international winner.
First acceptances for the $ 8 million Melbourne Cup have been taken with 80 horses, including defending titleholder Cross Counter, still in contention.
Charlie Appleby, Tony McEvoy, Patrick Payne, Adam Trinder and Chris Waller have been announced as finalists for the 2018-19 Fred Hoysted Award in Victoria.