Overseas challenge shows steps to protect Melbourne Cup status are paying off

For a country that enjoys nothing more than a bout of Pommie baiting, Australia has taken the annual British invasion on the Melbourne Cup with good grace. Perhaps that’s because British-trained horses do not have a great record in the country's most prestigious race.

There have been several near-misses but Cross Counter’s triumph last year was the first by a British trainer. Since Dermot Weld spirited the prize away from Australasia with Vintage Crop in 1993 there have been three wins for Ireland, two for France and one each for Japan and Germany.

At this stage it looks as though the most potent overseas challenge this year will come from Japan, which struck an early blow in the preamble when Mer De Glace landed the Caulfield Cup four days ago.