Honolulu wins Doncaster Cup

Irish stayer Honolulu did his best to convince trainer Aidan O'Brien to embark on a tilt at the Melbourne Cup by winning the G2 Doncaster Cup (3621m) in England on Friday night.

Sent out a 15-8 ($2.87) favourite by punters, Honolulu relished the fast pace set by Royal And Regal to win and gain exemption from any ballot for the Melbourne Cup.

But whether O'Brien sends out a team to Melbourne is still unknown.

The trainer must convince officials from the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service that his Ballydoyle stables satisfy stringent quarantine regulations following the outbreak of EI in the country last year.

Bulwark, another Melbourne Cup entrant, was unplaced.

Saturday night will see three more possible Melbourne Cup starters in action.

O'Brien's three-year-old Alessandro Volta will tackle the English St Leger, while Septimus, currently the third favourite for the Melbourne Cup, and Dermot Weld's Profound Beauty are in the Irish St Leger.