If there is one Australian trainer involved in this year's Melbourne Cup that knows what it takes to hold off the ever-strengthening foreign invasion of our greatest race then it is Leon Corstens.
The Kyneton-based trainer has one of the best local chances in this year's $6.2 million race, which is dominated by overseas based runners, in South Australian Derby winner Zabeelionaire.
Before branching out as a trainer in his own right, Corstens was best known as the stable foreman for the legendary Bart Cummings and played a key role in preparing some of Cummings' record 12 Melbourne Cup winners including Hyperno, Think Big, Kingston Rule and Let's Elope.
And while these days the trend for Melbourne Cup horses is not to race on Derby Day before the race - with even Cummings taking that option this year with his two guaranteed runners this year in import Sanagas and Precedence - Corstens has stuck with the tried and true method with Zabeelionaire.
Zabeelionaire, which is already guaranteed a start in this year's Melbourne Cup, will race in the Group One weight-for-age MacKinnon Stakes over 2000m on Saturday against Cox Plate winner Ocean Park, Caulfield Cup runner-up Alcopop and Turnbull and Underwood Stakes placegetter December Draw.
It will be the four-year-old's first start since a gallant sixth - beaten less than three lengths by Dunaden - in the Caulfield Cup.
Corstens, speaking on RSN, said Zabeelionaire was thriving and he had no concerns with running him in the MacKinnon and then backing him up for the Melbourne Cup.
"Bart's method was always to run his Cup horses in on the Saturday and every time I have gone away from Bart's methods over the years something has usually gone wrong," he said.
Of Cummings' 12 Melbourne Cup winners - the only one that did not race in either the MacKinnon or the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day - was Saintly in 1996 after he came through via winning the Cox Plate.
Corstens said while it would be tough for Zabeelionaire to beat the likes of Ocean Park, Alcopop and December Draw at WFA on Saturday, he was hoping the run would then enable him to peak on Cup Day.
"Everything is going really well at this stage, he is looking really good," Corstens said.
"Hopefully he can finish the race off hard on Saturday and be right on their hammer and then he drops six and a half kgs (from 58.5kg at WFA on Saturday to just 52kg for the Melbourne Cup.).
While Zabeelionaire is well weighted for the Melbourne Cup, Corstens believes reigning Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winner Dunaden is in light with 59kg, believing he should have been penalised more than just 1kg for his Caulfield Cup win with 58kg.
And while he is confident Zabeelionaire will acquit himself well in the Melbourne Cup, he admits this year's race may have come a little soon for his SA Derby winner.
"His best chance could be next year. He is still not quite there this year and is still a bit immature but I am really pleased with how he is going."