OSCAR SCHINDLER took up the Melbourne Cup challenge yesterday when connections finally committed themselves to the big race, helped by a persuasive Michael Kinane.

Kinane, who partnered Vintage Crop to his historic victory at Femington in 1993, has convinced owner Oliver Lehane that he will never have a better chance of landing Australia's greatest horse race.

The Irish St Leger winner and Arc third has an enticing 8st 13lb for the two-mile contest and his participation swells the European contingent to three, alongside Court Of Honour and Grey Shot.

Although trainer Kevin Prendergast was keen to run Lehane had grave reservations about embarking on a trip that will set him back about £50,000.

But he revealed: "It was Mick Kinane who finally persuaded me and he will ride Oscar Schindler in the race.

"Mick thinks he could win even if he was 7lb worse off while he would need to improve 7lb to win the Breeders' Cup Turf. I still think he has an enormous task but we'll give it a go," he added

But no sooner had the Melbourne decision been made than another foreign opportunity opened up for Oscar Schindler later this year. The four-year-old is one of three European runners to have made the final cut, in tandem with Singspiel and Strategic Choice, for the Group Two Hong Kong International Vase (l2f) at Sha Tin in December.

Demot Weld's Definite Article, a New York failure last weekend in the Grade One Turf Classic, is one of seven European reserves for this race.

John Oxx's Timarida, who is expected to contest the Group One Champion Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow week, is one of two European runners, along with Geoff Wragg's First Island, to be granted a place in the Group Two Hong Kong International Vase (91).

Ed Dunlop's Haydock Park Sprint Cup winner Iktamal and the French filly Shaanxi, have made both made the two European berths in the Group Two Hong Kong International Bowl (71). Jim Bolder's ldris is one of eight European reserves.