Former England striker Michael Owen’s horse Brown Panther seeks a historic win in Australia’s ‘race that stops a nation’ on Tuesday (04:00 GMT).

The Goodwood Cup winner, who was bred and is co-owned by the ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid forward, is among a maximum field of 24. No British-trained runner has ever won the two-mile contest, and six hopefuls try this time.

Rivals include previous Cup winners Green Moon (2012) and Dunaden (2011). Dunaden and Tres Blue were given the all-clear to run despite having been given raceday treatments in an apparent breach of the regulations, with officials ruling the horses had not been administered with banned substances. An inquiry was adjourned to a later date.

Fiorente, trained like Tres Blue by Gai Waterhouse, could go off favourite, while the other British contenders joining Brown Panther are Dandino, Mount Athos, Royal Empire, Red Cadeaux and Ruscello.
Simenon, who was runner-up to The Queen’s horse Estimate in the Gold Cup at Ascot in June, represents Irish trainer Willie Mullins.

Owen is among a crowd of more than 100,000 at the track to watch his horse, the mount of Richard Kingscote for Cheshire-based trainer Tom Dascombe. “I’ve been in horse racing for around 15 years and to have a horse good enough to compete is fantastic – it’s what you’re in the sport for,” said Owen.

“It’s a famous race around the world. The Australians have come over and won our sprints but maybe we’ve got the edge in the staying division and we’d love to be the first English winner.”

EMIRATES MELBOURNE CUP
Venue: Flemington racecourse Date: Tuesday 5 November Time: 04:00 GMT
Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live. At The Races TV

Courtesy: BBC SPORT