The Australian
10/10/10

AUSTRALIA'S stables go to Caulfield on Saturday, aiming to repel the first wave of foreign invaders.

The international horses will try to strike an early blow in the run-up the 150th Melbourne Cup.

As many as four horses could make up the Eurasian invasion on Saturday, but that's merely a tease. The full assault will come at Flemington on November 2 when 10 international entries are expected to challenge.

Japanese iron horse Tokai Trick is seeking to go better than 2006 third placegetter Delta Blues and 2005 runner-up Eye Popper on Saturday when he meets Hong Kong galloper Mr Medici and UK pair Manighar and Drunken Sailor.

Tokai Trick has been awaiting the opportunity to compete in Australia since equine influenza outbreaks here and in Japan ended his participation in 2007. He has run in the Tenno Sho, Japan's feature 3200m event, five times and was unlucky in the race this year.



He is regarded as better suited to the longer race, but the Caulfield Cup is not being viewed by trainer Kenji Nonaka as a tune-up. Shinji Fujita, who rode Eye Popper, has come back to exact revenge for the narrow loss to Mummify.

Mr Medici did all his preparatory work in Hong Kong, but has not raced since last season when he won the Champions and Chater Cup, a Group I race at Sha Tin over 2400m. Acclaimed French rider Gerald Mosse returns to Australia for the ride.

Drunken Sailor is likely to be an emergency, unless there are a couple of surprise defections early in the week. A last start winner in England, he will run in the Geelong Cup on Wednesday week if he misses a place in the field on Saturday.

Alcopop returned to his best form when he chased home So You Think in Saturday's Yalumba Stakes (2000m) under weight-for-age conditions at Caulfield. He drops from 59kg to 53.5kg in the Caulfield Cup and and has been promoted to favouritism at $5.50.

Herculian Prince and Metal Bender share the second line of betting at $6.50. Shocking is next at $7.50.

Gai Waterhouse's entry, Herculian Prince, recruited from New Zealand, is a last-start winner of The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick, and will be ridden by South African Glyn Schofield, who now calls Australia home.