Olivier Deleuze among candidates to ride Irish mare in Cup CHAMPION international rider Olivier Deleuze is one of five jockeys vying for the Melbourne Cup mount on Irish import Voleuse de Coeurs, who arrived in Melbourne on Saturday. The Hong Kong-based Frenchman has been discussed by new Hong Kong connections, who have Australian links with Eliza Park stud. The five-year-old mare is now in the care of Flemington trainer Michael Moroney after winning the Group I Irish St Leger last month for Dermot Weld. "We're still in the throws of selecting a jockey, and it will be the owners' decision," Moroney said yesterday. They brought up Olivier, Glen Boss and James McDonald are in the mix, and Nash Rawiller and Corey Brown have rung. The suspended Boss had been booked for Puissance de Lune in the Cup, but as revealed by The Weekend Australian last Saturday week, he could seek a get-out clause, especially as he may not ride the grey in Saturday's Cox Plate after being suspended after his Caulfield Cup ride. Deleuze knows his way around Flemington, having ridden a winner at the track. He rode in last year's Melbourne Cup, finishing 23rd aboard outsider Tac de Boistron. Moroney's clients bought the Irish mare for a reported $1.5 million after she streeted her rivals, including 2010 Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux, in the 2800m St Leger at The Curragh on a firm track on September 15. The deal was brokered by Moroney's brother Paul, an international bloodstock agent, who had made a case to buy Voleuse de Coeurs 12 months earlier. "Her wins last year were on heavy tracks, so we just waited until she performed on better tracks before we made the offer," Michael Moroney said. After a 27-hour flight from Heathrow with stopovers in Amsterdam, Sharjah and Singapore, Voleuse de Coeurs arrived with some illustrious company, including internationally-trained Cup runners, 2010 winner Dunaden, Red Cadeaux, Verema, Mount Athos, Brown Panther and Tres Blue, who will be prepared by Gai Waterhouse. Godolphin's sole Melbourne Cup hope Royal Empire arrives today. "My mare travelled well, her temperature was normal and she ate well, so everything's gone to plan so far," Moroney said 24 hours after sighting her in the flesh for the first time on Saturday. Racing Victoria's international official Leigh Jordan yesterday said the connections of all horses who flew in on Saturday were happy with their condition a day after they entered quarantine at Werribee. Moroney, who trained Brew to win the 2000 Melbourne Cup, is hoping to have at least one other runner this year. Import Araldo, who was also bought on behalf of new clients by Paul Moroney, must win the Group III Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Derby Day to be exempt from the Cup ballot. The impressive winner over Sea Moon, on protest, in The Bart Cummings at Flemington on October 5, will be joined in the Lexus by stablemate Garud. Trainer Ed Dunlop said Red Cadeaux would not tour the world again following his Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong campaigns over the next two months. The Aga Khan's first thoroughbred venture down under with Verema could be the first of many as he is planning to expand his interest in Australian racing. Verema, who has twice won over 3000m, is prepared in France by Alain de Royer Dupre, who prepared Americain to victory in the 2010 Cup. Former England soccer star Michael Owen will be in Melbourne for the Cup to watch the five-year-old he bred and owns, Royal Ascot winner Brown Panther. Sportingbet media manager Michael Felgate yesterday said the best supported international runners have been $19 chance Tres Blue, who was $51 at the start of the month, and Verema, who has met with solid support over the past week, firming from $31 to $14.