Officials in Australia are keen for Highland Reel to travel Down Under and challenge Winx in the Cox Plate.

Leigh Jordon, who acts as Racing Victoria's recruitment officer for international contenders, believes Aidan O'Brien's globetrotter could be just the right horse to serve it up to the superstar.

"Highland Reel was here two years ago competing against Winx as a three-year-old and he ran third and Aidan won the race the year before that with Adelaide so I'm sure the race is on his radar," Jordon toldwww.racing.com.

Winx - bidding for a third Cox Plate

"I'd love to see Highland Reel come back and run those tearaway sectionals and make a real race of it.

"Last year he went on the route to the Arc (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) - he ran second - then he went on to the Breeders' Cup, which he won, running those sectionals.

"Personally, I'd love to see him come here and throw it up to Winx."

Jordon also believes a second O'Brien could be involved in the Spring Carnival, with Joseph having expressing a desire to send a runner to Australia at some stage in his career.

"I know Joseph really wants to travel and he'd love to have a runner down here in the Melbourne Cup and Spring Carnival," Jordon said.

"Whether it is this year or into the future, I'm sure we'll see him down here.

"He's got something like 150 horses in work and he's going to be a real force in the future."

Rekindling, one of O'Brien jnr's best horses, is owned by five-time Melbourne Cup winner Lloyd Williams.