Four big name gallopers will bypass the Caulfield Cup 2012 on October 20 and go straight to the Cox Plate the following Saturday it has been revealed with third acceptances for both of the spring majors released today.

Green Moon is one of the big name defectors from the 2012 Caulfield Cup third declarations

There are now 41 gallopers still in contention for the $2.65 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2040m) after third acceptances cut the number of hopefuls down from 80 (second acceptors).

The four most notable non-Caulfield Cup 2012 third acceptors were:

• Green Moon (Robert Hickmott) – Lloyd Williams-owned galloper ran second in the Caulfield Cup last year but will start a top fancy for the Cox Plate this year having won the Turnbull Stakes last Saturday
• Mourayan (Robert Hickmott) – Stablemate of Green Moon also a winner last weekend having scored a tight victory in the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick
• Manighar (Peter Moody) – Ace Moody import is a triple Group 1 winner down under during the autumn, last seen running a below par sixth to Ocean Park in the Underwood Stakes
• Shoot Out (Chris Waller) – Recent winner of the George Main Stakes first-up, was out of luck when seventh in the Epsom Handicap and will likely be kept to 2000m this prep

Other notable omissions from the Caulfield Cup entries include the injured Lamasery, and top Melbourne Cup chance Mount Athos from the UK stables of Luca Cumani.

Meanwhile the top three horses in 2012 Caulfield Cup betting are still in the mix with:

• Glencadam Gold ($4.50) – Gai Waterhouse-trained favourite for the Melbourne Cup also after this British import retained their undefeated status down under with a mighty four length effort in The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick last Saturday
• December Draw ($9) – Mark Kavanagh’s beaten favourite last year when fracturing their leg during the run, in flying form again this spring having run a close third in both the Underwood Stakes and Turnbull Stakes with improvement to come
• Seville ($11) – Progressive Robert Hickmott-trained import this four-year-old caught the eye at Flemington on the weekend when running a close fourth to Green Moon in the Turnbull

Adding more interest to the 2012 Caulfield Cup third acceptances are the likes of defending Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed and the past two Melbourne Cup winners Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) who are both set for the coveted spring cups double.

Along with Americain and Dunaden other notable international raiders featuring in the Caulfield Cup third acceptances 2012 include the Mark Botti-trained Jakkalberry who won the American St Leger last time out and who is owned by Aussie interests, the Andre Fabre-trained Brigantin and American’s stablemate Shahwardi who will look to move up the Caulfield Cup ballot with a win in the $220,000 Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield this Saturday.

The 2012 Caulfield Cup final field of acceptors will now be taken on October 16, 2012 and published right here at Races.com.au.

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2012 Caulfield Cup Third Acceptances

Caulfield Racecourse – 20/10/2012