AS BRITISH trainer Brian Ellison walked through the gates of the Werribee quarantine centre just hours after arriving in the country yesterday morning, there was a distinct sense of trepidation from the waiting press, reports The Age. It says: Ellison's three previous trips to Melbourne had ended in frustration and anguish but questions regarding the disasters were inevitable. In 2005 Ellison's leading Melbourne Cup contender was impaled on a steel upright at Flemington during a trackwork accide

AS BRITISH trainer Brian Ellison walked through the gates of the Werribee quarantine centre just hours after arriving in the country yesterday morning, there was a distinct sense of trepidation from the waiting press, reports The Age.

It says: Ellison's three previous trips to Melbourne had ended in frustration and anguish but questions regarding the disasters were inevitable.

In 2005 Ellison's leading Melbourne Cup contender was impaled on a steel upright at Flemington during a trackwork accident. Miraculously the horse survived and returned the following year, only to be ruled out by injury. In 2007 Ellison returned to Melbourne but left for the UK without emerging talent Bay Story after the gelding tragically snapped a hind leg and was put down during a minor race on Cup day in front of the packed grandstand.

After exchanging pleasantries yesterday, the Band-Aid that no one wanted to rip off was eventually gripped and the hardy Newcastle-born trainer was asked if he was glad to be back in Australia. ''Let's hope for better luck this time,'' he said.

Despite the tragedy of previous Melbourne campaigns Ellison is looking forward to the spring with his latest tourists, Moyenne Corniche and Saptapadi.

''We enjoy coming here, the people are always so good to you. You can have bad luck anywhere you go and I don't blame Australia for what happened in the past,'' he said. ''Both horses have travelled really well and worked well today. Both will run this Saturday at Caulfield in the Herbert Power.''

Both Saptapadi and Moyenne Corniche arrive in Australia on the back of impressive performances in Europe's richest handicap, the Ebor at York. (www.theage.com.au)