As the countdown to the big three of Australian racing -- the Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup -- reaches that exciting time when the major local contenders are shown their wares on track, the next unknown -- the internationals -- are just beginning their quests for these cherished prizes.Thirteen horses have entered quarantine centres across England and Ireland, where they well serve a mandatory 14-day stay before jetting-in to Melbourne on 1 October.Upon arrival, theyll call Racing Victorias International Equine Centre at Werribee, west of Melbourne, home for the duration of their southern hemisphere spring campaigns. Theyll be joined by a second group of Emirates Melbourne Cup-focused campaigners on 15 October.Of this first group, the newer headline acts are Wicklow Brave, trained by Irish master Willie Mullins, and former UK galloper Exopshere who will be a new acquisition to five-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Lee Freedmans yard.Sheikh Mohammads Godolphin team, meanwhile, have sent an unprecedented first group of five horses into Englands Newmarket quarantine complex.Godolphin, with a greater focus on the Melbourne Cup, have historically sent his charger in the second shipment, which meant their quarantine period didnt end until Derby Day. For those contenders allocated lighter weights in the Melbourne Cup, a last-ditch effort to win a feature race on Derby Day made for a touch-and-go situation.The 2016 UK-based Godolphin runners are taking a different approach this year under trainer Charlie Appleby. They will be looking also to tackle races such as the Geelong, Moonee Valley, and Bendigo Cups, together with the final roll option of the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day - a win-and-youre-in race towards the Cup. Some may even aim solely towards the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the final day of the Flemington Carnival.With the exception of Dermot Welds grand Irish stayer Vintage Crop winning the Melbourne Cup in 1993, history has shown it is all-important for a visiting contender to have run in a race in Melbourne before taking out our biggest race. This seems to be a point now heeded by foreign trainers with the increased number being sent to Melbourne to include a final preparatory start.Global racing and breeding giant Coolmore Stud is understood to have entered six horses into quarantine in Ireland last Wednesday. However, and unusually, they are yet to advise Racing Victoria, or allow to be made public, the names of those horses. That group could include 2015 Hong Kong Vase winner Highland Reel.The great unknown is how well all of these horses will travel, recover, and take to their new surroundings. Time will tell for all, but for now here is a guide to the know new names on the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival block.WICKLOW BRAVE (IRE) -- (Trainer: Willie Mullins - Likely Jockey: Frankie Dettori)Last start: 13/9/16 - 1st Group 1 Irish St Leger, 2800m at The Curragh (IRE)There are some very good reasons why Wicklow Brave is so high in the order of the Melbourne Cup market, and it isnt just because of his latest strong victory in Ireland, where he was victorious over the previous Cup favourite, Order of St George.After that win, Wicklow Brave firmed from $35 into Melbourne Cup favouritism with UBET at $15 (which could well be value come Cup Day). Mullins seems to have set this horse on a path to Melbourne throughout 2016 as he has been keen to return for Australias big races as soon as possible, and especially with the right sort of horse.It might sound obvious, but so much of what Mullins has achieved with his horses in Melbourne has been down to the training.He brought Simenon to Melbourne in 2013. Written off by most experts just a hurdler, that type of stamina-sapping style was the way Simenon was trained while at Werribee in the lead-up to his run in the 2400 metres Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on Guineas Day, when he finished a very creditable third.In the week following, Mullins changed Simenons training; it still consisted of a lap-after-lap three- or four-mile canter each morning, but it included also a sharp sprint of about 400 metres at the end of each circuit.The difference? Simenon wasnt just a dour stayer at Flemington on Cup Day, when he displayed a newly acquired extra zip when it counted to finish fourth behind Fiorente.Similarly with Max Dynamite in 2015, Mullins brought a fine looking animal to Melbourne that glided around the training track and earned the consistent praise from most onlookers of gee, hes a nice mover.That he was at Flemington, too, as he powered to the line under global riding headliner Frankie Dettori behind Prince Of Penzanze in that most famous of Cup editions.Rated a $51 chance by UBET to win the BMW Caulfield Cup, punters would be well advised to keep an eye on his progress over the next six weeks. Frankie is looking likely to take the reins this time as well.Wicklow Brave also wasnt missed by Melbourne Cup handicapper Greg Carpenter, who allocated 55.5kg to the Irish raider in that race; but he has 52.5kg in the Caulfield Cup. Should he snatch victory at Caulfield, that Melbourne Cup impost may just edge a little higher should Carpenter decide to impose a penalty.EXOSPHERE (UK) --?(Now with trainers Lee and Anthony Freedman)Last start: 17/8/16 - 5th Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes, 2100m at York (ENG)Last win: 30/4/16 - 1st Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes, 2400m at Newmarket (ENG)Although purchased by Australian interests who also own Cups contender Our Ivanhoe, the appearance of Exopshere during the Melbourne Carnival is a bit of a coup. At his best over a distance, there is a lot to suggest that this colt, previously trained by Sir Michael Stoute at Newmarket, can be more than competitive particularly once he settles in to his new home.Although failing to win at his three latest starts, Exosphere has been placed behind smart performers such as Postponed and Big Orange; the connections of Postponed have abandoned their Melbourne-bound plans, but Big Orange is due to make a second trip to Australia with the next shipment.Exosphere has been a big market mover, tumbling from $51 to become a $15 equal favourite with UBET for the BMW Caulfield Cup. Exospheres dominant four-length victory at Newmarket has him right in the mix for Lee Freedman to claim a fifth win in the 2400 metres feature.VADAMOS (FRA) --?(Trainer: Andre Fabre - Recent Jockey: Vincent Cheminaud)Last start: 11/9/16 - 1st Group 1 Prix du Moulin, 1600m at Chantilly (FRA)Heading this way for the Cox Plate, the Moonee Valley Racing Club seem well pleased to have attracted this Group 1-winning six-year-old and his trainer.Settling near the lead over the mile trip, then pinching a break at the top of the long Chantilly straight and maintaining that momentum up the short but steep enough rise, Vadamos was ridden out nicely to the line by Cheminaud late last week.In the Group 1 Prix dIspahan over 1800 metres in May, Vadamos led but was beaten by Japanese topliner A Shin Hikari by 12 lengths.Twice a Group 2 winner over 1600 and 1800 metres, and likely to take a forward position in anything he runs in, UBET rate Vadamos a $26 chance for The Valleys big one.The biggest question on punters minds could be if Vadamos is a risk over the Group 1 2040-metre trip on 24 October?SCOTTISH (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby - Recent Jockey: William Buick)Last start: 20/8/16 - 1st Group 3 Strensall Stakes, 1800m at York (UK)Hes four-years-old and $15 equal favourite (UBET) for the Caulfield Cup. Hes not, however, a winner over 2400-metres. Yet, anyway.Hes the right age, though, as Mongolian Khan was in 2015, as four-year-olds have been most successful in the races 138-year history.OCEANOGRAPHER (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby - Recent Jockey: William Buick)Last start: 20/8/16 - 7th Ebor Handicap, 2800m at York (UK)Last win: 30/7/16 - 1st Class 2 Handicap, 2100m at Doncaster (UK)At $81 with UBET for the Melbourne Cup and allocated 50kg for the race, Oceanographer will need to do something very special -- once if not twice -- after his quarantine period ends to make it into the Cup field.Taking the increasingly traditional path through the Ebor Handicap towards Flemington, Oceanographer finished more than nine lengths behind Heartbreak City, who is in the Melbourne Cup market at $26.FRANCIS OF ASSISI (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby)Last start: 27/7/16 - 6th Class 2 Handicap, 2800m at Goodwood (UK)Last win: 16/10/15 - 1st Class 4 Handicap, 3200m at Doncaster (UK)What we do know is that this one is a stayer. This six-year-old isnt one of the better-credentialed Godolphin visitors, but that staying capability might be something to consider in the country Cups should he be a starter.SECOND WAVE (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby)Last start: 26/7/16 - 4th Class 2 Handicap, 2000m at Goodwood (UK)Last win: 26/12/15 - 1st Class 2 Handicap, 1900m at Wolverhampton (UK)Without getting too excited, this one might be a blackbooker, or at least one to keep an eye on.Similar to Oceanographer, Second Wave will need to lift a few notches to make the Melbourne Cup field -- especially with the light weight of 50kg.However, Second Wave does have form around Sir Issac Newton, who finished fourth just in front of Exosphere at York in August.QEWY (UK)?-- (Trainer: Charlie Appleby)Last start: 26/7/16 - 2nd Class 2 Handicap, 2400m at Goodwood (UK)Last win: 7/2/15 - 1st Novices Hurdle, 3300m at Newbury (UK)Despite this European six-year-old remaining winless since early 2015, over the jumps no less, there is an interesting factor to his recent form: in his second placings at his last two starts, he was ridden by James McDonald - including in the 4000 metres Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting in June.Another Godolphin contender that will need the results of lead-up runs to go his way to lift him higher up the Melbourne Cup order of entry, it may pay to keep a look out if the top Sydney-based Kiwi jockey partners with this Irish-bred UK galloper in Melbourne.Of the others to have entered quarantine:ARTICUS (GER) --?(Trainer: Andreas Wohler)Last start: 31/7/16 - 5th Group 1 Grosser Dallmyar-Preis, 2000m at Munich (GER)Last win: 12/7/16 - 1st Group 3 Hanover Trophy, 2000m at Hanover (GER)Yet to win beyond 2000 metres, 2014 Melbourne Cup winning trainer Andreas Wohler should know the type of horse required to be competitive in our biggest races. Rated a $19 chance in the Caulfield Cup, Articus has a handy record of four wins in seven starts.Four other horses have entered quarantine and will be heading to new homes with Australian trainers: Irish middle-distance performer Endless Drama and Royal Ascot Duke of Edinburgh Stakes winner Kinema head to Chris Wallers stable, while Ballarat-based Matt Cumani will welcome French galloper Grey Lion to his yard and Group 1 Canterbury Stakes winner Holler returns to John OSheas Sydney stable after a stint in the UK.UBET Market UpdateMelbourne CupOur Melbourne Cup market has been adjusted more than a few times in the past week after a shock victory in the Irish St Leger, the unveiling of the weights, and several leading international contenders pulling the pin. As it stands, Wicklow Brave, from the powerful Willie Mullins stable, is the outright $15 favourite having leaped into calculations with a storming win in the Irish St Leger over former cup favourite Order Of St George and 2015 Melbourne and Caulfield Cup placegetter Trip To Paris. Prior to his victory in the final Irish classic of the season, Wicklow Brave was rated $35 to take out the race that stops the nation. Ascot Gold Cup winner Order Of St George had headed the Cup Futures for months, but he was ruled out of travelling to Australia and will instead head to France to contest the Prix de lArc de Triomphe. 2014 Melbourne Cup champion Protectionist is also doubtful to make the trip. As a result, the Aiden OBrien-trained colt Idaho has been promoted to the second line of betting at $17, alongside top Australian contender Signoff, who was fourth in the great race in 2014 and absent from the 2015 edition due to a leg injury. After opening at $41, the Darren Weir stayer has been backed and backed all year, including one wager of $1000 at $41, and is, by the length of the Flemington straight, the worst result for the UBET fixed odds team. Money has also for Japanese hope Carren Mirotic -- $36 into $19 -- who was beaten a lip in the recent Group 1 Tenno Sho. Gun hoop Tommy Berry has been booked to ride Curren Mirotic, who easily accounted for Fame Game, last years top Melbourne Cup fancy, in the vaunted spring feature.Click here for?UBETs Melbourne Cup market.Caulfield CupAs for the Caulfield Cup, the big mover has been Exosphere, no relation to the recently retired Godolphin colt by the same name. Recently purchased from European giant Juddmonte by a Melbourne-based syndicate who intend to aim him at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, the five-year-old stallion has been backed in from $51 to $15 co-favouritism. Given the interest, and the fact hell be trained by cups legend Lee Freedman, our traders will be keeping Exosphere very safe. He beat UK St Leger winner Simple Verse by four lengths and Big Orange, who ran fifth in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, by nine lengths, in the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket so hes a serious horse. Fellow import Hartnell, who blew them away in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes, is also $15, in from $26 prior to the slashing seven and three-quarter length win, alongside well-travelled Irish stayer Highland Reel, Godolphin four-year-old Scottish and the best credentialed Australian horse, ATC Derby runner-up Jameka, from the Ciaron Maher camp. Mick Kent stallion Tarzino, well below his best thus far this preparation, is the best backed runner at $17, although most of that investment came in March after his Group 1 Rosehill Guineas win.Click here for?UBETs Caulfield Cup market. Dallas Cowboys Gear . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Cowboys Jerseys 2021 .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. https://www.cowboysjerseysale.com/ . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Cowboys Jerseys 2020 . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Cowboys Jerseys China . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. MINNEAPOLIS -- Last year, Minnesota took a losing record and winter clothes to the postseason.The Gophers will bring a better vibe to their bowl game this time, making sure to pack the flip-flops, too.After qualifying for the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit at 5-7 on the strength of their graduation rate because there initially werent enough eligible NCAA FBS teams to fill all the slots, the Gophers (8-4) were picked for the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. The game is Dec. 27.Beautiful spot, wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky said. I think the guys will be pretty amped to go and be able to kind of free roam and hit the beach and enjoy ourselves. I think that the energy will be up and a lot more positive, for sure.When they lost the last game on their schedule last year to Wisconsin, the Gophers figured they were done. They had to rally to beat a non-power-conference opponent, Central Michigan, in an indoor stadium in a northern city.A lot of guys had checked out, having such a disappointing season, but our ability to come back and win that was big, Wolitarsky said. I think that can lead us to have some momentum to win this one too.The venue shift from drab to sunny sure helps, a selling point not lost on the university in the form of a Gophers helmet planted in the sand on the front page graphic on the athletic department website.Facing a daunting Pac-12 foe, Washington State, adds meaning. So does the opportunity to reach nine victories for the first time in 13 years and only the second time since 1905.We wanted it to be Pasadena, Wolitarsky said, referencing the Rose Bowl, but it didnt go as we planned, obviously.dddddddddddd But were very fortunate to be here and get those nine wins.This will be the programs 14th appearance in a bowl game in the last 18 seasons, a stretch during which the lineup of postseason games has swelled considerably. Gophers fans have been presented with opportunities to visit Nashville, Tennessee, and Tempe, Arizona, three times each and El Paso, Texas, and Houston twice. Thats a glaring example of why the Big Ten recently shuffled the allocation process, and Minnesota this year will benefit. The Citrus Bowl two seasons ago on New Years Day is the only other bid in the last 15 years that Gophers fans were fired up for.For Wolitarsky, the senior from Santa Clarita, California, hell get to play in his home state in front of more than 100 family members and friends instead of the usual 10 or so at a regular-season game.So Ive got find some tickets, Wolitarsky said.For coach Tracy Claeys, the game is confirmation from athletic director Mark Coyle that hes staying on the job for the foreseeable future.Whenever you have a new boss you dont know how they feel and some of them, they want to bring in their own person, Claeys said. So I trust him and respect him an awful lot. He chose to come back here, and that was important to a lot of us. Wed like to have somebody in place whos not looking for the next job.---For more college football coverage: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '