Late nominations for the 2010 Melbourne Cup closed on Tuesday with the connections of three more gallopers paying the additional fee to enter their horses in the 150^th edition of the famous Flemington feature.

There are now officially 256 gallopers vying for a spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup final field, including late entries Black Mamba, the Pat Hyland-trained Zabeel mare Miss Alia and Japanese stayer Meisho Dontaku.

Leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse has added super US stayer and Group 1 winner Black Mamba to her list of Melbourne Cup hopefuls giving her eight chances to win the $6 million handicap.

The seven-year-old mare has already earned over $1.2 million in prizemoney, headlined by her victory in the Group 1 John C Mabee Handicap (1800m) back in August 2008.

Black Mamba hasn’t raced since December last year when she finished last in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin.

She was recently rested following a crack to her heel but is reportedly back in work at Waterhouse’s Randwick stable and progressing well towards the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2.

Waterhouse’s other 2010 Melbourne Cup nominations are lead by AJC Derby runner-up Descarado and AJC Oaks winner Once Were Wild, followed by Go With The Flo, Herculian Prince, Just A Blaze, Tullamore and Two For Tea.

In other 2010 Melbourne Cup news, English raider and Cup hopeful Imposing was recently purchased by Australia’s high-profile racehorse owner Lloyd Williams.

Williams, who has already enjoyed three Melbourne Cup wins with Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance (1985) and Efficient (2007), bought Imposing for an undisclosed amount as he aims for a fourth win in the world’s richest handicap this spring.

The five-year-old Danehill Dancer galloper, previously trained by Sir Michael Stoute, has had just seven race starts to date for two wins and is currently paying $67 through [sportsbet] to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup.

Williams has 21 horses nominated for this year’s Melbourne Cup, eight from overseas, including Irish St Leger winner winner Alandi, Grand Ducal, Muir, Our Aristocrat and Mourayan who will make their Australian debut this Saturday in the Group 2 J J Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Check out the odds for all the 2010 Melbourne Cup entries now to lock in the generous early odds available at leading online bookmaker [sportsbet].

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