Two of Australia's finest jockeys, Damien Oliver and Greg Hall, believe this could be the Melbourne Cup year for the Poms.
Underpinning that belief is Melbourne's fickle weather.
Oliver rides the current 8-1 Cup favourite, Kiwi stayer Kaapstad Way, but his optimism over winning his second Melbourne Cup is dampened by Flemington's track conditions.
Showers which have swept Melbourne since Monday had the track rated slow (soft) yesterday and similar weather is forecast through to the Cup on Tuesday.
Kaapstad Way cannot produce his best form on anything but firm footing, which is why Oliver asked to be released from him to ride Fairway in the $A2 million Caulfield Cup when the forecast looked gloomy.
Track conditions ended up hard on the day and Kaapstad Way finished second, sweeping past third-placed Fairway in the home straight.
Oliver, one of the best judges in the business, has a lot of respect for the English raiders after seeing most of them when riding in Europe during the Southern Hemisphere winter.
He rode against Far Cry and was impressed by Arctic Owl, the two horses who have disputed favouritism with Kaapstad Way.
"I finished fourth in the Ascot Gold Cup on San Sebastian when Far Cry finished second to Kayf Tara," said Oliver yesterday.
"Far Cry probably would not have beaten Kayf Tara anyway, but he had to shoulder my horse out of the way to get out and have a crack at the winner.
"That form stacks up pretty well against our stayers down here."
The English horses who have trekked down for the Melbourne spring carnival have almost all favoured rain-affected footing.
Arctic Owl is a toff in the wet, to the extent trainer James Fanshawe has said he may even consider not starting if the track is too hard.
That statement is seen by some as putting pressure on the Victoria Racing Club to have conditions to suit for the visitors.
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The only European horse to win the Melbourne Cup so far has been Irish-trained Vintage Crop.
He landed one of the biggest Cup betting coups on record when he won easily in 1993.
The unluckiest was Persian Punch, who covered a remarkable amount of extra ground almost throughout the 3200m before finishing only a neck and half a length behind the Kiwi pair Jezabeel and Champagne two years ago.
Taufan's Melody won the Caulfield Cup at long odds that year and backed that form up with a sound fourth to Jezabeel.
That cross reference of form may be important weighing up this year.
Taufan's Melody was not regarded as a topliner in England, certainly not in the same class as Far Cry and Arctic Owl, yet he was on a par with our best.
Last year the all powerful Godolphin stable was devastated when Kayf Tara broke down a week out from the Melbourne Cup and in desperation, but with little hope, threw Central Park into the race as a 50-1 outsider.
Carrying 57.5kg, 7.5kg more than the winner Rogan Josh, Central Park failed by only half a length to lead throughout.
Far Cry and Arctic Owl are regarded as better.
Oliver's Ascot Gold Cup mount San Sebastian, no match for the pair who have travelled to Melbourne, won a group one race in France after Ascot.
"They are basically good quality, one-speed horses who can keep going," said Oliver's manager, former racing journalist Bruce Clarke, who accompanied the jockey in Europe.
"Arctic Owl won the Irish St Leger, which is a good pointer to a race like the Melbourne Cup."
English trainer John Oxx has engaged Greg Hall to ride Enzeli in the Melbourne Cup.
Crown Casino boss Lloyd Williams bought into the ownership of Enzeli, who was to have been ridden by crack European jockey Johnny Murtagh.
Murtagh was apparently unhappy with the package offered him around the ride and has decided not to make the trip.
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Bart Cummings has made a surprise move to start Oxford Dollar in the $A500,000 Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday rather than in the $A200,000 Saab Quality.
Oxford Dollar is well down the list to make the final Melbourne Cup field on Saturday night and looked as though he needed to gain one of the two Cup qualifying spots by finishing first or second in the Saab.
"I've done my homework and I reckon he'll make the Cup field," said Cummings.
There was a suggestion in Melbourne last night that French visitor Mont Rocher, injured in the Caulfield Cup, will start in the Mackinnon Stakes, but will be missing from the Melbourne Cup.
Mont Rocher still has his near-side fetlock bandaged after being jammed against the running rail in the crush on the bend out of the home straight in the Caulfield Cup.
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A decision on whether Sunline will travel to Hong Kong for the internatiomal meeting in December will not be made until early next week.
Co-trainer Stephen McKee said at the Avondale races yesterday that Sunline had returned home in great condition.
"Her colour is terrific and she's as bright as a button."
Sunline will have it easy for 10 days, but will remain in the McKee stable rather than spell in a paddock.
"She tends not to spell very well.
"She stays in one corner of a paddock and does much better when she's at the stable and around the other horses."
Just another unusual quirk of an unusually talented mare.
Racing: Canny horsemen eyeing Northern visitors
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