Horseman, pass by." Yeats jockey Kieren Fallon is a horseman who has cast a long cold eye on the events that have befallen him this season, but the race that Australians call 'the celebration that stops a nation' gives him a great chance to salvage some warmer memories.

The Irish favourite carries top weight in his bid to emulate the achievements of Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle and become the third Irishtrained winner of Australia's most important horse race.

Fallon travelled down under several weeks ago, ostensibly to implement a three-point plan. Develop his expertise at riding in Australian races, prepare Yeats for the big race and most importantly . . . to win the thing.

Of course with Fallon nothing is ever that simple. Part one of the mission was soon in tatters when he was banned for careless riding soon after his arrival. Luckily, the stewards were merciful enough to end the ban the day before the big race.

Yeats has been working well enough to impress the sceptical Australian press, and Fallon mischievously raised the level of expectancy a little higher earlier this week. Trotting the horse back past track watchers he confidently asked, "How does the Melbourne Cup winner look, boys?"

Yeats certainly has the form and ability to win the two-mile contest. His stamina was proven in this year's Gold Cup at Ascot and he had the tactical speed to win the Group One Coronation Cup at Epsom last year. The great unknown however is how the trip halfway around the globe affected him. Where Dermot Weld has twice triumphed there is a long litany of European failures.

Yeats has been reportedly backed to win millions in the race, but that was before his defeat in the Irish St Leger, which caused his trainer to wonder if the horse had peaked earlier in the season.

However, if he wasn't ready to do himself justice he wouldn't be there, and if he can get a clear run in a notoriously rough race it would be a memorable epitaph to a great horseman's troubled year.

MELBOURNE CUP Tuesday, Flemington Racecourse, 4.00am (Irish time)