Raider out of Cox Plate

This year's Cox Plate has lost its international flavour following the withdrawal of UK galloper Traffic Guard on Wednesday night.

Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, the daughter of former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock, told Racing Victoria Limited racing manager Leigh Jordon on Wednesday night that connections wanted to instead target the G1 English Champion Stakes (2000m) on October 18.

Traffic Guard, who ran a career-best second to outstanding Irish galloper New Approach in Ireland's Champion Stakes on the weekend, was the only internationally-trained galloper left in the Cox Plate after Tuesday's first declarations.

However, Luca Cumani pair Mad Rush and Bauer and the Godolphin-trained All The Good will move one step closer to a trip to Melbourne on Thursday when they enter quarantine in the UK.

The three are due to arrive in Melbourne on September 27.

Mad Rush and All The Good have been set for the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double while Bauer, part-owned by former Test cricketer Simon O'Donnell, will run in the Geelong Cup on his way to the Flemington feature.

Meanwhile, there will be six Melbourne Cup entrants involved in racing in Europe this weekend.

Honolulu and Bulwark are engaged in the G2 Doncaster Cup (3621m), the winner of which will be exempt from any ballot for the Melbourne Cup.

Aidan 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.