With eight European raiders having already taken up residence at Werribee, 11 more horses from that part of the world have entered quarantine at Newmarket (UK) in preparation for their arrival in Victoria on 19 October. Included in the group are seasoned travellers and horses that have already tasted success on Australian soil.

Racing Victoria’s International Recruitment Officer, Leigh Jordon, described the list of horses that have already made the trip and those that are about to embark on it as the best mix of sprinters, milers and distance performers that the Spring Carnival has seen in the two decades since Vintage Crop became the first European-trained horse to win the 1993 Melbourne Cup.

After running a gallant fifth behind Green Moon in the 2012 Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m), the Luca Cumani-trained Mount Athos will return this year with Cumani hoping to snag the race he has been targeting since 2007.

After finishing second in 2011 and eighth in 2012, globetrotting sensation Red Cadeaux will return for a third tilt in the two-mile feature.

Since the Ed Dunlop-trained eight-year-old gelding was last in Melbourne, he has notched a victory in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and placed in the Dubai World Cup (2000m) and the Japanese feature Tenno Sho (3200m), both at Group 1.

Red Cadeaux ran fourth in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2800m) on 15 September behind Voleuse de Coeurs who will also be making the trip to Melbourne for new trainer Mike Moroney at Flemington after the mare was purchased by Australian interests in the last 24-hours.

2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning trainer Alain de Royer Dupre has entered Verema into quarantine as a part of a two pronged attack after the mare’s victory in the Group 2 Prix Kergolay (3000m) at Deauville, France, in August.

He will also be represented by Shikarpour, owned by the Aga Khan, who ran fifth in the Group 2 Prix Nieul (2400m) last start with an aim to line up in the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Another previous Melbourne Cup winner and 2012 BMW Caulfield Cup victor Dunaden is also embarking on a third Australian trip and a shot at becoming the first overseas trained horse to win the Flemington feature twice.

His trainer Mikel Delzangles also has star three-year-old Havana Gold entering quarantine at Newmarket with the colt, a Group 1 winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat (1600m) in France last June, targetting the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Soccer fans will be most interested in the arrival of Brown Panther, owned by former England striker Michael Owen, who was a recent winner over 3200-metres in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup on 1 August.

Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam will saddle up Caravan Rolls On who has won five of its 13 starts but a start in the Emirates Melbourne Cup will see the six-year-old having its first start over 3200-metres.

The arrival of imported horses now in owned by Australian continues with another two in this category entering quarantine:

Gai Waterhouse may be hoping Fiorente can go one better in this year’s Melbourne Cup after finishing second in 2012, but she will strengthen her attack with new recruit Tres Blue.

A three-year-old under European timing standards, Tres Blue is entered for the Emirates Melbourne Cup following the colt’s victory in the Group 2 Prix de Deauville (2500m) in France five weeks ago.

David Hayes will welcome Stipulate into his stable with the sprinter/miler looking towards a berth in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) on 9 November with the longer term aim being the 2014 Group 1 Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m).

After spending a fortnight in quarantine in the UK, the internationals will arrive in Melbourne on BMW Caulfield Cup day.

Godoplhin's Royal Empire is another European contender that may arrive in Melbourne for the first Tuesday in November. He races on Saturday in the UK before entering quarantine, should connections proceed with their plans.

Click here to view the profiles for all the international contenders during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.