Leading Melbourne Cup hope Septimus is among a host of European-trained entrants racing in England this week.
York's four-day Ebor Festival - the highlight of which is Europe's richest handicap the Ebor Hanidcap (2800m) - could hold the key to which of the continent's Melbourne Cup hopes end up coming to Melbourne for this year's race.
Nearly an inch of rain has fallen at York since Saturday, ensuring heavy conditions for this week's racing. With more rain likely, conditions are sure to deteriorate further.
The wet has already seen four potential Melbourne Cup runners - the Luca Cumani-trained pair Bauer and Sanbuch, Sir Michael Stoute's Sugar Ray and John Queally's Al Eile - withdrawn from the Ebor.
The Ebor, won last year by subsequent Melbourne Cup runner-up Purple Moon, is considered an important lead-up race for any European galloper with Melbourne's major staying features on its agenda.
"There's the Irish St Leger coming up (September 13) but obviously if they miss it, it puts their campaign in jeopardy, that's for sure," Racing Victoria Limited racing operations manger Paul Bloodworth told Sportal.
"Generally speaking, horses that run well in the Ebor keep heading towards Melbourne and horses that don't probably pull the pin to some extent."
But there are still five Cup entrants remaining in the Ebor - Cumani's race favourite Mad Rush, Young Mick, Milne Graden, Pippa Greene and Minkowski.
One galloper likely to push through the mud, albeit not in the Ebor, is Septimus, which is currently second favourite for the Melbourne Cup behind Efficient.
Septimus, a first-up winner in June, will continue his preparation in the Group Two Lonsdale Cup (3299m) on Thursday morning.
Four of his eight rivals in the race - Bulwark, Royal And Regal, Sagara and Yellowstone - have also been entered for the Melbourne Cup.
Septimus' stablemate Duke Of Marmalade, one of Europe's best gallopers, will run in the Group One Juddmonte International Stakes (2092m) in a campaign which RVL officials hope will include the Cox Plate.
Patkai, entered for the Melbourne Cup, will run in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, a Group Two race for three-year-old colts and geldings over 2414m which will also features O'Brien pair Alessandro Volta and Bashkirov.
The Juddmonte and Great Voltigeur Stakes will be run on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning (AEST), weather permitting, while the Ebor and Lonsdale Cup will be run the following evening.