Today at midday the nominations for a number of the premier Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival features will close, and Races.com.au will be the first to publish the list of early entries.

Nominations for the major spring trio are all out today, with the $6 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m), $3 million Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) and the $2.5 million BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) all expected to attract an unprecedented number of nominees.

The major drawcard on the Australian racing calendar is of course the Melbourne Cup, celebrating its 150^th anniversary this November on Tuesday the 2^nd.

A strong contingent of overseas-trained horses are sure to make up part of the 2010 Melbourne Cup list of nominations, with the increase in prizemoney one of the major attractions.

Last year 39 international entries were amongst the Melbourne Cup nominees, and with strong talent from Japan and Europe eyeing the Cup this year, expect the number to increase.

The 2010 Cox Plate is also sure to attract phenomenal turf stars with the likes of the Gai Waterhouse-trained Theseo, 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and highly rated mare Typhoon Tracy sure to be among the list of hopefuls.

Other race nominations out today are those for the $1 million Age Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and the $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m).

As the leading source of Australian racing news, previews and results Races.com.au will report on all the leading major spring race nominations including the top overseas runners, early betting favourites and any significant absentees.

Check back this afternoon and be the first to see the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate nominations before the official antepost betting markets open up at leading online bookmaker [sportsbet] later in the week.

This Spring Racing Carnival don’t waste your wagers at the TAB. There is always more money to win by betting online with Sportsbet City Best Plus, paying higher dividends than the best price from the three big TABs.

Don’t wait until the Melbourne Cup nominations are out to set up your account, take a few minutes now and sign up with Australia’s most trusted online bookmaker [sportsbet].