Martin Pipe arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday to take over the preparations for his Melbourne Cup hope Far Cry, bringing with him some British weather.
Pipe was at the Sandown track yesterday where Far Cry and the majority of his fellow international raiders are stabled for an early-morning visit to his charge and had to drive through heavy rain which has threatened to soften the ground for the Spring Carnival which gets underway at Flemington racecourse tomorrow.
But the Nicolashayne trainer was satisfied with what he saw five days ahead of Far Cry's tilt at the big race.
"Things are going well and it's just a case of keeping him ticking over," said Pipe. Far Cry is 9 to 1 co-second favourite with local bookmakers.
Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe is also happy with Irish St Leger winner Arctic Owl who he is hoping will improve on the performance of the last year's stable representative Travelmaite, who finished fourth behind Rogan Josh.
"Touch wood all is well," said Fanshawe, whose charge is available at 10 to 1 down under.
As in Britain, all eyes were on the sky in Melbourne as heavy rain hit the city. Around 12 mm fell overnight on the Flemington track leading to concerns that the going could be heavy for tomorrow's Victoria Derby meeting which could have a knock-on effect upon Tuesday's card.
However, the forecasters are predicting no more than showers from tomorrow although today may see a thunderstorm.
Montjeu is down to 7 to 2 (from 9 to 2) with Coral despite the prevailing fast ground being against him for tomorrow's Breeders' Cup Turf in Kentucky.
The French colt has been troubled by an ankle problem and can run with the aid of the anti-inflammatory drug bute but connections have announced they will not be using lasix.
His jockey Mick Kinane said: "He hasn't been the force he was since the ankle setback but it was a good run against Kalanisi in the Champion Stakes and he doesn't have much to find.
"The owners have been pretty brave as it would have been the easiest thing to put him away."
Aidan O'Brien's Giant's Causeway, the main stumbling block to America's main hope Fusaichi Pegasus in the Classic, remained in the quarantine barn yesterday "He was very hyper when he got here but is starting to chill down now," said trainer Aidan O'Brien.
"He's been going for a long time but if any horse can do it, he can. He's actually 15 kilos heavier than his last race."
Kinane dispelled fears that racing from the number 14 box on the wide outside will seriously inconvenience Giant's Causeway. "If we were drawn low we might have been under pressure to get an early lead. From the outside we can move gradually across," he said.
