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LATE next week, a dozen finely-tuned thoroughbreds will be loaded in the dead of night on to a long-haul carrier in England, bound for Melbourne.
Ahead of them is a gruelling 28-hour flight with stopovers in Amsterdam, Sharjah and Singapore.
Their owners, chasing massive pots of Australian prizemoney, have outlaid $80,000 a head to fly their horses to the other side of the world and back - with no guarantees of ever recouping the investment.
By the time the first of those feted gallopers sets hoof on Australian race tracks, they will have spent a month in quarantine on either side of the equator, travelled from autumn to spring and through 10 time zones.
And then they will tackle some of the world's most famous races, hoping to emulate the pioneering paths of Vintage Crop, Media Puzzle, Americain, Delta Blues, Taufan's Melody, All The Good and Dunaden.
It is a staggering challenge, an assignment of endlessly complex dimension. Logistically, it is nightmarish bordering on impossible.
Yet the northern raiders come in increasing numbers and, as shown by recent history, the Spring Carnival's richest baubles are not beyond them.
With more than 20 Europeans laying siege to the Melbourne Cup, Cauflield Cup and Cox Plate over the next month, chances are some of the visitors will square the ledger for their owners.
Simenon (Herbert Power Stakes) and Trevieres (Toorak Handicap) throw down the gauntlet at Caulfield on Saturday in the first public measure of international strength this season.
According to Racing Victoria's international recruiter Leigh Jordon, the penny has dropped abroad as European stables target a broader range of races.
"I think what's happening is that owners and trainers are sitting up and taking notice of the prizemoney in Australia," Jordon said.
"It's not just the Cups and the Cox Plate, it's the undercard as well.
"That's why we're getting the numbers and the quality we have this year."
Included in the class of 2013 are Group I winners in Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland and the US. There are also multiple Group 2 and Listed winners.
Heading the list is 2011 Melbourne Cup and 2012 Caulfield Cup winner Dunaden, gun Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Nine, Dandino, Red Cadeaux and Voleuse de Coeurs.
And there is a string of others primed to make quantum performance leaps.
"This would have to be the best cross-section of internationals that I've ever seen come out to Australia," Jordon said.
"We've got virtually the top-rated sprinter in the world in Lucky Nine.
"We've got two Cox Plate horses - Side Glance and Mull Of Killough - which we've probably never had before.
"We've got horses for the Caulfield Cup, the Melbourne Cup and, on top of that, we're going to have runners in the Herbert Power and the Toorak Handicap this weekend.
"We've got runners for the Emirates Stakes. We've even got a horse (Caravan Rolls On) coming for the Lavazzo Long Black."
Collectively, Werribee has never hosted more horses in quarantine, and of such quality - testament to Jordon's capacity to promote the carnival to once sceptical, now willing, partners.
"Everyone in the world knows about the Melbourne Cup but it's selling the other races," Jordon said.
"It's not just the prizemoney, it's the logistics. Logistics is a big thing.
"Australia's quarantine is the strictest in the world. You've got to do two weeks quarantine in the country of origin and in Newmarket, they've got to train in the afternoon.
"Then they've got the flight over here. It's something like 28 hours and they've got three stops along the way.
"Then they've got over that trip and do quarantine here, so that's a big ask."
And there's the inherent risk.
Airfares aside, there's the not inconsiderable expense of race fees, travel and accommodation costs of trainers, jockeys and grooms.
Nomination and acceptance fees run to more than $50,000 for the Melbourne Cup alone.
But Cup victory carries immortality and a $3.6 million cheque (plus $175,000 in trophies). The largesse extends to 10th place ($125,000), a fact lost on none.
For those who finish further back, however, the gamble is costly.
"If you run out of a (prizemoney) place, it's a pretty expensive trip," Jordon said.
"But, against that, they realise the prizemoney here is too good to knock back."
There's also the experience.
Eton-educated Ed Dunlop once needed convincing he should campaign in Melbourne but the Englishman, much like Luca Cumani, Dermot Weld and Mikel Delzangles, is smitten.
Red Cadeaux's ability to consistently pick up prizemoney cheques doubtlessly adds to Dunlop's satisfaction levels.
With little more than a week to the Caulfield Cup, Jordon has been impressed by Marco Botti's striking Dandino and expects Side Glance and Mull Of Killough to do well in the Cox Plate.
The Melbourne Cup is, always, a conundrum.
"The important thing with these horses is that you've got to see them arrive and see how they settle in," Jordon said.
"Some don't handle it. Some of them settle in perfectly, like Simenon this year.
"Dunaden and Red Cadeaux have been here and done it. You never know what's going to happen with the first-time visitors."
And that, in part, is what makes the international contingent so fascinating.
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