Racing: International visitors have to front up

MELBOURNE - The international visitors will turn their heads to the Geelong Cup to salvage some pride after being humbled in Saturday's Caulfield Cup.

Luca Cumani-trained Basaltico and Godolphin's Crime Scene head betting charts for today's feature after the failures of their respective stablemates Cima De Triomphe and Kirklees.

International raiders have a perfect record at Geelong with Media Puzzle winning the Cup in 2002 and the Cumani-trained Bauer scoring last year.

Basaltico is 33rd in order of elimination for the Melbourne Cup and would assure himself a start at Flemington if he wins today, while Crime Scene, ranked 21st on the list, is already guaranteed a run.

Sara Cumani said she was happy with way Basaltico was going, but added it was hard to go into the Geelong Cup with any degree of confidence after Cima de Triomphe finished 14th in the Caulfield Cup.

"We just can't explain what went wrong," Cumani said.

Cima De Triomphe is likely to run in the group one Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day.

A top three placing in the Mackinnon would guarantee him a run in the Melbourne Cup as it passes the ballot clause, but Sara Cumani said it was unlikely he would back-up three days later.

A winner of eight of his 27 starts, Crime Scene is topweight with 57.5kg and will jump from gate three with Kerrin McEvoy aboard today.

Damien Oliver will ride Basaltico who has barrier 13 and will carry 55.5kg.

- AAP