INTERNATIONALS TO WIN WITH PREPARATION RUN

MEDIA PUZZLE (2002)

Won the Geelong Cup with 55kg then won the Melbourne Cup with 52.5kg. Returned the following year and went into the Melbourne Cup without an Australian run and finished 12th.

DELTA BLUES (2006)

Ran third to Tawqeet in the Caulfield Cup with 56kg and carried the same weight when winning the Melbourne Cup. Fellow Japanese runner Pop Rock finished 7th in the Caulfield Cup with 53kg and carried the same weight when a narrow second to Delta Blues.

AMERICAIN (2010)

Won the Geelong Cup with 58kg then won the Melbourne Cup with 54.5kg. Returned the following year and won the Moonee Valley Cup with 58kg and carried the same weight when an unlucky fourth to Dunaden.

DUNADEN (2011)

Won the Geelong Cup with 58kg then won the Melbourne Cup with 54.5kg. Returned the following year and won the Caulfield Cup with 58kg before striking interference with the same weight in the Melbourne Cup, finishing 14th.

PROTECTIONIST (2014)

Ran fourth in the Herbert Power with 59kg then won the Melbourne Cup with 56.5kg. Four of the internationals have had a start in Australia heading into this year’s Cup.