Europe`s Fosters Melbourne Cup raiders look on course to do themselves justice after a positive morning`s work at their Sandown headquarters today.
Jockey Craig Williams, back in his native Australia following a successful season in England with Mick Channon, gave Irish St Leger winner Arctic Owl the thumbs-up after a stiff piece of work designed to liven up the gelding following Tuesday`s lethargic session.
'He`s in great form and really fired up compared to the other day,' said Williams.
'We`ve got him out of holiday mode and he is firing on all cylinders at the right time.'
He feels James Fanshawe`s charge, quoted at 10-1 locally, has every chance of following in the hoofprints of past Irish St Leger winner Vintage Crop - the only European horse ever to win Australia`s most famous race.
'The way he feels he is in top order. As long as he`s fired up and has luck on the day he can win it,' declared Williams.
Meanwhile, Martin Pipe put his Cup hope Far Cry through a stalls examination as he continued a meticulous preparation for his attack on next Tuesday`s big race.
'We did it just to refresh him,' said Pipe.
'We leave no stone unturned and wanted him to get used to it. The horses here jump from the stalls pretty quick and we thought we would show him what is required.'
Pipe said he had no concerns about the soft underfoot conditions at Flemington, which has taken almost an inch of rain over the last few days.
'The ground shouldn`t worry him,' he said. 'It was really soft in England when we sent him hurdling and he handled that all right.'
Pipe visited Flemington last night for the first time and was happy with what he saw.
'We had a meal there but I didn`t walk the course. I`ll do that on Monday with Kevin (Darley),' he said.
Darley is due to arrive in Melbourne over the weekend, after being crowned champion jockey in Britain for the first time.
'He`ll be on a high so, hopefully, he`ll keep it going,' Pipe said.
John Oxx jetted in this morning to oversee the final preparations for Enzeli, whose new owner local businessman Lloyd Williams slammed the condition of the Flemington track following the recent rain.
Williams hit out at officials after several local trainers were unable to work their horses at the track due to its waterlogged condition.
'I don`t think you can train horses at Flemington or Caulfield,' he stormed. 'The training tracks are too bad.
'The English horses have a big advantage being able to train by themselves at Sandown. At Flemington this morning the poor Australian trainers couldn`t work their horses.'
Williams believes the international raiders have a major chance of success this time round.
'They are the best stayers,' he said. 'If any of these horses get it right they will put a gap in this field just like Kayf Tara would have done last year.'
Godolphin`s Kayf Tara was withdrawn just days before his scheduled appearance as favourite at Flemington and his less-fancied stablemate Central Park went on to finish runner-up in the two-mile event.
