The main focus at the Werribee Quarantine centre this morning was on the Newminster barn where the most recent arrivals, including several leading prospects for the Emirates Melbourne Cup are housed. Gai Waterhouse, Luca Cumani, who arrived in Melbourne on Saturday, and David Hayes were on hand for to see their charges go through their paces, reports Tony Bourke at Racing Victoria.

Waterhouse was very keen to see how the latest addition to her stable, Tres Blue, was adapting to Australian conditions.

The four-year-old, a three time winner in France, apparently had acquired a few bad habits earlier in his career and Gai was intent on setting him straight as soon as possible.

She has put Tres Blue under the care of Ryan Prendergast whom she uses for the breaking in of her two year-olds and is experienced in all levels of horse management.

Under the watchful eye of Waterhouse, Prendergast took Tres Blue out for four laps of the Werribee racecourse alternating steady canters with half pace gallops.

Just when it seemed Tres Blue’s unusually long stint on the track had finished after three laps, onlookers were surprised when Waterhouse instructed Prendergast to do it again.

She explained that Tres Blue, who was previously trained in France, was responding positively to his new environment.

Waterhouse also confirmed that her stable jockey Tommy Berry, who will ride Tres Blue in the $6 million irates Melbourne Cup, would be based in Melbourne from tomorrow to get the ‘’feel’’ of the horse.

Cumani said he was very pleased with the condition of Mount Athos who walked a lap and then had strong canter from the 1000 metres.

Hayes said he was happy with the condition of Stipulate who will contest the Emirates Stakes (1600m) on the final day of the Flemington carnival.

‘’He cantered over 1400 metres this morning and will have a good gallop on Tuesday,’’ Hayes said.

The Irish St. Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs , who is now trained by Mike Moroney, has gradually increased his workrate and is expected to have a more serious gallop on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the availability of jockey James Mc Donald.

The main news from the Vintage Crop barn centred around Caulfield Cup runner up Dandino who did not go out onto the track this morning amidst rumours that the horse was sore after his work on Friday.

Simeon walked and cantered over two laps instead of his usual three while Side Glance and Mulll of Killough , recovering from their runs in the Cox Plate, settled for pick of grass in the compound.

Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Nine had an easy morning on the track and lappears to have taken no harm from from his close first-up second in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley last Friday night.

Trevieres has recovered from a strained muscle in the hindquarters and a decision will be made tomorrow night on a start in Saturday’s weight-for-ageG Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.