Moore on a Cumani mission in Melbourne

Luca Cumani has two runners in the Melbourne Cup (Getty Images)

Two contributors to the limited European success in California have gone on over the Pacific in the hope of again finding rather less tough local opposition in Australia. Last year European raiders were six of the first seven home in the Melbourne Cup, led by Dunaden – whose trainer, Mikel Delzangles, saddled Flotilla to win at the Breeders' Cup on Friday. And Ryan Moore, who won there on George Vancouver, will seek to end Luca Cumani's maddening sequence of near misses in Melbourne on Mount Athos early tomorrow morning.

Red Cadeaux, beaten a nose last year, is 6lb better off but Dunaden looked superb when warming up with victory in the Caulfield Cup. Americain, the 2010 winner, shaped well in fourth there, and likewise Cumani's second runner, My Quest For Peace, in fifth. Dermot Weld, winner of two Melbourne Cups, returns with Galileo's Choice.