Australia's new superstar So You Think will have to take on the biggest contingent of international runners ever assembled in next week's Melbourne Cup.There were 11 overseas horses remaining among the 47 horses declared at the third declaration stage on Monday, nine from Europe and two from Asia.So You Think's trainer Bart Cummings has a solid back-up team in case he decides not to run the dual Cox Plate winner with Faint Perfume, Dariana and Precedence still in the mix.While the nation wants S

Australia's new superstar So You Think will have to take on the biggest contingent of international runners ever assembled in next week's Melbourne Cup.

There were 11 overseas horses remaining among the 47 horses declared at the third declaration stage on Monday, nine from Europe and two from Asia.

So You Think's trainer Bart Cummings has a solid back-up team in case he decides not to run the dual Cox Plate winner with Faint Perfume, Dariana and Precedence still in the mix.

While the nation wants So You Think to run and win, Cummings won't rubber-stamp a start until after the horse contests Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes.

Of the European trainers with horses in the Cup, Irishman Dermot Weld stands apart having won the race twice with Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle nine years later.

He has Profound Beauty back to try to improve on her fifth of two years ago before she is retired to stud.

But it is French horse Americain who has caught the eye of punters with the Geelong Cup winner third favourite behind So You Think and last year's winner Shocking.

Retired international jockey Mick Kinnane, who rode Vintage Crop to his historic victory and won many of the world's most prestigious races, said he had doubts about So You Think over the gruelling 3200 metres.

"Last year's winner Shocking was a big run in the Caulfield Cup and Americain's run at Geelong was outstanding," Kinnane said.

"So You Think was a good win in the Cox Plate but he beat a nine-year-old (Zipping).

"He's a very good horse for sure but whether he can stay the Melbourne Cup distance, I have my reservations."

Cummings's trainer son Anthony, who has Zavite in the Cup, said his father had proven him and others wrong so many times before, it wasn't worth questioning his decisions.

"I've learnt it's a waste of time over 30 years and I'm not going to start now," he said.

Michael Walker will replace Ben Melham in the Cup aboard Zavite who ran seventh in the Caulfield Cup on a heavy track.

"His run in the Caulfield Cup was excellent and with a bit of luck and a good barrier he will go very well," Cummings said.

"The international horses are probably the strongest they've been."

Tokai Trick will be the first Japanese runner to contest the Cup since Delta Blues beat stablemate Pop Rock in 2006 while Mr Medici will represent Hong Kong.

Shiekh Mohammed's Godolphin operation is assured of just one runner - Campanologist - with Holberg and Eastern Aria outside the field and relying on attrition.

Shocking's trainer Mark Kavanagh said he thought it would be the toughest Cup ever.

"This will be the strongest in years, maybe the best ever," Kavanagh said.

"You only have to look at the fact it's a Cup field with a 53-1/2 (kilogram) minimum to see just how strong it is."

The winners of the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) and Lexus (2500m) gain automatic entry to the 24-horse Cup field.

Alcopop, who ran sixth as favourite in the 2009 Cup, is 29th in order this year and has been nominated for both the final ballot-exempt races.

English horse Bauer, runner-up to the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed in 2008, is number 24 in the order of entry.

Saturday's Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Precedence is at 26 and is entered for the Mackinnon and the Lexus.