I'm not really a follower of overseas racing (only in retrospect once the Melbourne Cup nominees are announced) but looking at the Royal Ascot Racing Carnival, the following races would be qualifying performances for the Melbourne Cup:


Queen's Vase - Wednesday midnight (AEST)
Group 2 - 2847m - 3yo

He didn't ultimately come to the Melbourne Cup, but last year's winner of this race, Kew Gardens, was an entrant. Hartnell and Stradivarius are also past victors. Western Australia is the current favourite ($4 - trained by Aidan O'Brien who has won 3 of the past 4 runnings), followed by Norway ($4.80 - also trained by O'Brien) and Jalmoud ($6 - trained by Charlie Appleby and owned by Godolphin, who teamed up to win the Cup with Cross Counter last year). Northern Hemisphere 3yo's have essentially been penalised an extra kilogram this year, but I don't expect that to be enough to totally dissuade those with a handy chance to make the trip, given the success of similarly-aged horses in recent times.


The Gold Cup - Thursday 11:50pm (AEST)
Group 1 - 4014m - 4yo+

Cross Counter vs the defending champ Stradivarius is the headline act with Dee Ex Bee, Kew Gardens, Flag of Honour, Magic Circle, Thomas Hobson and Master of Reality among those also featuring. Trip To Paris won this race in 2015 ahead of a Melbourne Cup tilt in the same year. At one stage he was favourite in the lead-up and finished a nice 4th in the Prince of Penzance win/dodgem derby. A place behind in that same race was Big Orange who would go on to win The Gold Cup a couple of years later.


The King Edward VII Stakes - Friday midnight (AEST)
Group 2 - 2406m - 3yo C&G

Rostropovich was second in this race last year. Best Solution was 10th in it the year prior.


The Hardwicke Stakes -Sunday 12:40am
Group 2 - 2406m - 4yo+