It took a while for Ryan Moore to earn the respect of Australian racing judges but his reputation can fall into line with the rest of the world with victory in Tuesday's Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Criticised for a couple of previous rides in the race, Britain's finest jockey was at his very best when driving Adelaide home in last month's Cox Plate and he has long been booked for the mount on Protectionist.
Trainer Andreas Wohler is a cool customer who has saddled many important international winners and initially targeted Australia after he picked up a mile-and-a-half Group Two at Hamburg in late June.
Protectionist proved he stays well by landing the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville in August, a race which was used as a stepping stone by Americain, the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner.
Wohler took the precaution of bringing the lightly-raced four-year-old across to Melbourne in plenty of time and gave him a prep-run in the Herbert Power at Caulfield on 11 October, where he stayed on for a promising fourth.
That form has been boosted by the first and second, Let's Make Adeal and Signoff, filling the same places but in reverse order in Saturday's Lexus Stakes.
Wohler was given an almost perfect draw in stall 11, and this son of Monsun has the perfect profile for this challenge.
The one to chase him home might be the filly Lucia Valentina, representing New South Wales trainer Kris Lees.
She faces a big question mark over the distance as she has never been asked to step up to two miles, and even won a seven-furlong Group Two back in September.
Lucia Valentina landed the Turnbull Stakes over a mile and a quarter of Tuesday's course on 1 October and the way she took off and eventually grabbed third despite a tremendously wide passage in the Caulfield Cup gives confidence she can last the trip in style.
Jamie Spencer is rumoured to be back in Melbourne on Thursday, having partnered Toast Of New York to that almighty second in the Breeders' Cup Classic, with the Irishman pencilled in for Qatar Racing's Crafty in the Crown Oaks.
But it could instead pay to take a look at Golconda for Cranbourne trainer Robbie Laing.
Horses are campaigned differently on this side of the world, with this filly appearing in Saturday's Wakeful Stakes.
That race is viewed as a key guide to the Oaks, and Golconda caught the eye when staying on for fourth.
