Order Of St George nominated for Melbourne Cup by Aidan O'Brien

Order Of St George is one of seven Aidan O'Brien horses among the first nominations for the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 1.

The prolific Gold Cup hero is still in the hat for the great race along with stablemates Bondi Beach, Sword Fighter, Unicorn, The Major General and major Ladbrokes St Leger players Idaho and Housesofparliament.

Compatriot Heartbreak City won the Ebor at York and he, too, features on the list for Tony Martin.

Willie Mullins saddled Max Dynamite into second place in the Melbourne Cup last year and has this time nominated Clondaw Warrior and Wicklow Brave.

Roger Charlton's Quest For More is, as was expected, absent from the nominations, but last year's fourth Trip To Paris still has the option for the Ed Dunlop team.

The in-form Big Orange finished fifth in the Melbourne Cup last November and could try again for Michael Bell.

Barsanti (Roger Varian), Exosphere (Sir Michael Stoute) and Kinema (Ralph Beckett) are also in the frame at this early stage.

Godolphin trainers are typically well represented, with Charlie Appleby having entered Francis Of Assisi, Oceanographer, Qewy, Scottish and Second Wave.

Saeed bin Suroor has the choice of Beautiful Romance, Elite Army, Important Message, Secret Number and Sky Hunter.

Prince Of Penzance and Protectionist, the respective last two winners of the Melbourne Cup, could try for more glory, though the latter, trained by Andreas Wohler, is thought unlikely to run.

Group One-winning colt Erupt (Francis Graffard) is also in the shake-up for France.

Japanese star Curren Mirotic and American stayer Da Big Hoss, who defeated Clondaw Warrior into second place in the American St Leger, are also in contention.

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said: "The depth amongst the international contingent is once again exceptional with the Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George, Goodwood Cup winner Big Orange, Ebor winner Heartbreak City and Tenno Sho runner-up Curren Mirotic amongst 31 international entries."