SUCH is the demand for berths at the Werribee Quarantine centre, International Spring Carnival aspirants are in danger of missing out.

“We’ve just got eight spots available in the second shipment,” said Racing Victoria’s Paul Bloodworth.

“Three stables have signalled their intention to come and that’s the stables of Torcedor, Marmelo and Magic Circle. Torcedor is rated 119, Magic Circle is 116 and Marmelo 114 so we’ve basically got five sports left available.”

Still in play for the remaining spots are Thomas Hobson, Max Dynamite, Kew Gardens, Flag Of Honour and Rostropovich.

This could create a bind for the Irish St Leger runner-up Latrobe whose owner Lloyd Williams indicated that he would only travel to Melbourne if his stablemate Master Of Reality goes with him.

“We just can’t have a situation where Master Of Reality (102 rating) keeps a higher-rated Melbourne Cup horse out,” added Bloodworth.

CUP PENALTIES

Following this weekend’s feature racing in Ireland and Britain chief handicapper Greg Carpenter has penalised three Irish-trained horses.

Kew Gardens copped 1kg for his St Leger win rising to 54kgs and first on the order of entry, while his stablemate, Irish St Leger winner Flag Of Honour, received a 1.5kg penalty, taking him to 52.5kgs and seventh on the order of entry.

Thomas Hobson improved his chances of returning to Melbourne rising to 54th on the order of entry having been given 1kg for his Doncaster Cup win, taking him to 54kg.

First declarations for the Lexus Melbourne Cup are taken on October 9th.

Cram new Chair

ROBERT Cram has taken over as the Chairman of Stewards for Racing Victoria. Cram was a long-time deputy to Chief Steward Terry Bailey who resigned in July to take up the head Stewards position in Singapore. He said: “I’m looking forward to helping each member of the panel continue to develop, while ensuring that we oversee safe, fair, clean and competitive racing for all participants across the state and for all punters betting on our racing.”

Doyle on the scene

CHARLIE Appleby’s spring campaign kicks off for Godolphin at Caulfield this weekend with James Doyle flying in to take the rides on Jungle Cat in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Folkswood in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes. Doyle will also ride Gongs for Godolphin’s local trainer James Cummings in the Jim Moloney Stakes.