Ireland's star stayer Vinnie Roe arrived safely in Australia yesterday but had to come through an in-flight medical scare before setting out on the final preparations for his third attempt on the Melbourne Cup.

Vinnie Roe developed a touch of colic during the 48-hour transit from the Curragh to Melbourne which took the horse via Copenhagen, Dubai and Singapore.

The Dermot Weld-trained star eventually landed with the English-trained pair of Distinction and Franklin Gardens to complete the overseas raiding party for Australia's most famous race and the update on his health was positive.

"He got a slight touch of colic during the flight but I'm glad to say he's alright. He has arrived safely," said Weld who also confirmed Vinnie Roe's destination after the Melbourne Cup which will be his last ever race.

The four-time Irish St Leger winner has been bought by Coolmore Stud as a prospective National Hunt stallion but Weld stressed yesterday that Vinnie Roe will race at Flemington on November 1st in the colours of his long-time owner Jim Sheridan.

Vinnie Roe is attempting to go one better than last year when runner-up to Makybe Diva and his first attempt on the cup was in 2002 when fourth to his stable companion Media Puzzle.

Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien has three horses left in Saturday's Champion Stakes at Newmarket but the Ballydoyle trainer indicated yesterday that the 9 to 4 ante-post favourite Oratorio is likely to be his sole runner.

"Mullins Bay is in a Group Three on the same day (Lexus Darley Stakes) and he might run in that instead. Ace could wait for the Breeders' Cup Turf rather than go to Newmarket," said O'Brien, who will contact the Newmarket clerk of the course this morning before deciding on the final format of his team for the Dewhurst Stakes on Saturday.

The Group One pair of George Washington and Horatio Nelson lead an O'Brien entry that comprises almost half of the 17 horses left in. "Either Horatio or George is likely to run but I can't say yet which it will be. I want to wait on the weather and see the results of the scopes they will have taken," O'Brien said.

The ground at Newmarket is forecast to be good for the weekend which will also be good news for the Jim Bolger team who have Alexander Goldrun lined up for the Champion Stakes.

A decent surface will also be to the advantage of the John Oxx-trained Caradak who is a likely starter in the Group Two Challenge Stakes.

Irish trained horses will also be making their presence felt in the US at the weekend with Dermot Weld's Miss Mambo lined up for Belmont Park on Saturday night and Luas Line pencilled in for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Keeneland the same evening.

The home action this afternoon is at Navan where punters will get the chance to check out the newly-aligned parade ring which has been moved closer to the grandstand and the betting ring.

It's the first stage on a major development which is due to start early in the New Year and which will incorporate a new weighroom as well as a new stable yard with a 140-box capacity.

That could have come in handy today as the numbers of runners means that the Turf Club have requested those with runners in the last couple of races to turn up as late as possible due to a shortage of stable space.

This is a meeting that threw up the smart flat horses Kitty O'Shea and Yehudi last season while the two-mile maiden has been won in the last couple of years by Back In Front and Hardy Eustace.

Familiar jumping names like the Grand National-sixth Nil Desperandum and Native Upmanship take on some relatively unexposed three-year-olds today and the edge could again go to the hardy veterans in the shape of last winter's smart novice chaser Sir Oj.

The nine-furlong conditions race went to Power Elite last year and Noel Meade's charge is back for another crack at it.

This looks a more competitive contest, however, with the well bred Emerald Cat representing Ballydoyle and John Oxx's Trefflich holding a chance on ratings.

However, the forecast indicates testing conditions and that will be ideal for the former McDonogh Handicap and Guinness Gold Cup winner Eklim who put in a decent effort on his first start for over a year at the Curragh last month.