Dunaden has been given the go-ahead to make a third challenge for the Emirates Melbourne Cup after finding the Japanese ace Orfevre too hot to handle at Longchamp on Sunday. An advanced finish in the Prix Foy could have persuaded trainer Mikel Delzangles to try the 2011 Cup hero in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe itself, as this 2400-metre event is the crucial trial for older horses ahead of France's showpiece race in three weeks.

Jamie Spencer, Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's retained rider, had to keep pushing away at Dunaden on the wet Parisian track and they made little progress through the field, beating only one-time Sportingbet Cox Plate prospect Mandour out of the nine starters.

It was, though, almost as if he were competing in a different race. Orfevre, beaten in calamitous circumstances in last year's Arc, retained the Group 2 in arrogant fashion as he cruised five lengths clear of the rest under an ultra-confident Christophe Soumillon

Dunaden will not follow the same path as 12 months ago, when he won the BMW Caulfield Cup before an uninspiring 14th place at Flemington.

There had been plenty of promise in the seven-year-old's most recent start in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud back in June when only the subsequent Ascot Group 1 star Novellist finished ahead of him.

The German colt will be one of the main obstacles in the path of Orfevre on his return to Longchamp, as well as the other trials winners Treve and Kizuna.

"He'll go to Australia," said the owner's racing manager, David Redvers.

"It was soft ground, they all finished in a heap behind the winner, and it didn't really suit him.

"The plan would be to fly in and go straight for the Melbourne Cup."

Redvers later reported on Twitter there would be three Spring Racing Carnival runners under the Sheikh's Qatar Racing banner.

Side Glance is bound for the Cox Plate while there will be a first international runner in the Emirates Stakes in Havana Gold.

Trained by Richard Hannon in Wiltshire, the three-year-old won his first Group 1 over 1600 metres in the Prix Jean Prat and also went very close to lifting a messy French Guineas.

"Dunaden back off to Australia after his prep in Prix Foy. No question in my mind we saw the Arc winner today and he's made in Japan," Redvers Tweeted.

"Australia team for QR (Qatar Racing) / Pearl Bloodstock is likely to be Dunaden (Melbourne Cup) Havana Gold (Emirates Stakes) and Side Glance (Cox Plate)."