AUSTRALIAN racing is something of a mystery to me, I have to admit, but tuning into the Melbourne Cup coverage at 4am on Tuesday was a bit like home from home, given the number of current-European and ex-European horses on show.

The race went to an ex-German, in Almandin, from the Irish-trained Heartbreak City, with former Brit Hartnell in third and current-Brit Qewy in fourth. Tony Martin’s training performance with Heartbreak City, who he got to win twice over hurdles as well as the highly valuable Ebor Handicap at York earlier in the campaign, deserves special commendation.