Owners of Melbourne Cup favourite Incentivise want to compete against the best internationals

Ozzie Kheir may end up being advantaged this year by a weakened Melbourne Cup field, but the prominent owner is sticking to his guns and insists Cup changes regarding international participation are an over-reaction.

At the time restrictive new vetting rules on internationals were announced in April, the Melbourne Cup-winning owner said they might as well change the name of the race to the Sydney Cup and he forecast a dramatic downturn in the number of Europeans coming for the great race.

Ironically, Kheir’s mission to win the Cup this year is likely to be aided by far fewer internationals given he and fellow owner Brae Sokolski have purchased a combined 50 per cent share in boom homegrown Queensland galloper Incentivise.

Incentivise, who is being sent to Peter Moody in Victoria, has rocketed into $11 Melbourne Cup favouritism after demolishing his Queensland opposition by huge margins.

But Kheir hasn’t changed his belief that the new vetting procedures, which have already seen Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien declare he is unlikely to have a Melbourne spring runner, are a step too far.

“Speaking on behalf of Brae and myself, if we were being selfish, having Incentivise as current favourite it would be in our best interest that no internationals came this year and give a local horse a chance to race in a weaker field,” Kheir said.

“But that’s not how I think.I would love to race against the best and see our races be seen on the global scale as a high quality international field of the best handicap stayers in the world and also attract the best weight-for-age middle distance horses we can.

“My views haven’t changed as my view always was that it will weaken the racing standard when less internationals arrive.

Ozzie Kheir (left) and Brae Sokolski last year with the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup. Picture: Aaron Francis/The AustralianSource:News Corp Australia

“As a passionate racing participant, I want the best quality spring carnival which includes the best horses from all around the world because that’s what attracts me to the sport when you are competing against the Sheiks and some of the richest families in Europe.

“There are great people in our racing industry and they all love competitive racing but also absolutely love and care for the wellbeing of our horses and they are trying to find the right balance.

“Unfortunately in my view it (Cup changes) has been an been a over-reaction because of outside noise.”

Earlier this week, Charlie Fellowes who trains popular raider and three-time Melbourne Cup placegetter Prince Of Arran cast significant doubt on him being back for another Cup tilt this year because of the “horrendous” medical testing his veteran galloper would have to go through.

Kheir said he realises the Cup changes may not be much of an issue for many Australian racing fans and agrees that if the changes help put a stop to Melbourne Cup deaths then they will be viewed as the right decision.

Kheir, who had a stake in 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist and purchased Cox Plate champion Sir Dragonet, hopes officials can find the “right balance” and potentially tweak some of the vetting changes so that international Melbourne Cup numbers can slowly increase in the future.

“Like anything, time will tell if it was the right call or not and like any business decision if it was not then I am sure it will be changed or tweaked until it is,” Kheir said.

“I know some at Racing Victoria are working tirelessly to encourage internationals to test the new protocols and there might be some willing to take their chance.”

Incentivise demolishes his opposition in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Picture: Trackside PhotographySource:Supplied

As well as being the Melbourne Cup favourite, Incentivise is the $7 Caulfield Cup favourite.

The exciting stayer, who has been trained by Steve Tregea in Queensland, doesn’t appear in Cox Plate betting markets but owners have not ruled out the race.

Kheir indicated connections still hadn’t considered locking in a jockey for the spring.

“There is still a long way to go to make the spring races and when this time comes it will be a good problem to worry about then,” he said.

“If Incentivise comes back in the same order, or better, they will be knocking the doors down and we will have all options to choose from and if he doesn’t obviously our options will be far less.”

Originally published asOwners of Cup fave want to race world’s best

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