The vibe at the international compound at Sandown remains positive ahead of Tuesday's Melbourne Cup although punters don't believe any of the six foreign entries can beat the home grown brigade.Two of the northern hemisphere contenders, Changingoftheguard and Warringah, will become Australian residents after both were purchased with a view to next year's Cup.They travelled so well their new trainers decided to aim at this year's Melbourne Cup. David Hayes has taken over Changingoftheguard while

The vibe at the international compound at Sandown remains positive ahead of Tuesday's Melbourne Cup although punters don't believe any of the six foreign entries can beat the home grown brigade.

Two of the northern hemisphere contenders, Changingoftheguard and Warringah, will become Australian residents after both were purchased with a view to next year's Cup.

They travelled so well their new trainers decided to aim at this year's Melbourne Cup. David Hayes has taken over Changingoftheguard while Chris Waller now prepares Warringah.

Both were upbeat when they fronted a large media contingent on Sunday, particularly Hayes who watched race jockey Glen Boss give Changingoftheguard a powerful workout over 3000 metres after an indifferent gallop on Thursday threw some doubts over the four-year-old's Cup campaign.

"I was very keen for Glen to ride him this morning, just to get the feel," Hayes said.

"If a jockey doesn't feel he can win, it's hard to win. Glen's probably more confident than me."

Hayes dismissed Thursday's run.

"I wouldn't read anything into that gallop. I'd read more into today's gallop," he said.

"He was relaxed and really keen to go faster today, he really strode out well. Most importantly though he ate all his feed last night.

"He gave me a good feel, it's all up to Glen now."

Boss was even more excited than the trainer, declaring the horse was back in contention.

"He's back in the ball game," Boss said after the run.

"He gave me a Triple A feel today, he's bounced back. He's obviously a tough horse.

"I'm rapt I am able to get that feel he gave me."

Boss has been in touch with Johnny Murtagh, jockey for former owner Coolmore while Waller has kept in constant contact with Warringah's former trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

"Sir Michael has been a big help to me and the horse is in great order but you never know until they are under raceday pressure," Waller said.

Race jockey Damien Oliver was on hand to appraise Warringah on Sunday.

Five of Oliver's past six rides in the Cup have been international horses and have included 2002 winner Media Puzzle, 2006 runner-up Pop Rock and 2007 runner-up Purple Moon.

"He (Warringah) probably lacks the class of some of the other ones I've ridden but in saying that he's got a significant weight drop than what he's been carrying in the UK," he said.

Two starts back Warringah carried 61.5 kg when he ran a close fifth in the Ebor (2816m) at York in August, recognised as England's major staying handicap, but he has only 52.5kg on Tuesday.

"He's a big horse so he won't know himself with that kind of weight on him," Oliver said.

"He runs up on the pace so he's going to be there for a long way."

Mourilyan's trainer Herman Brown, Ian Williams who prepares Munsef and Saeed bin Suroor (Crime Scene) were positive about their charges but the Cumani camp was not so buoyant about Basaltico having missed out on getting Cima de Triomphe into the race.

"Things haven't gone exactly to plan," Luca Cumani's wife Sara said.

"Cima's been very disappointing.

"But Bauer went under the radar last year, Basaltico maybe this year."

The Cumani-trained Bauer finished second to Viewed in 2008 a year after Purple Moon was runner-up to Efficient.