Foreign brigade have matched the class but rarely the character of old - Sydney Morning Herald

The master … Bart Cummings celebrates Red Handed's win in 1967.

The Melbourne Cup this year is regarded as ''the strongest renewal we've seen'' by Greg Carpenter, Racing Victoria's chief handicapper. ''It's now the staying championship of the world,'' he claimed.

Obviously, the Big One is stronger because of the international flavour that began with Vintage Crop, the Irish invader in 1993, but didn't really take off until the past four years.

The expertise of Australian trainers and jockeys was able to keep the visitors at bay but Carpenter emphasises his point with the two most recent chapters of the race, in which Americain infused the French influence by downing Maluckyday and the great So You Think in 2010, followed by Dunaden's triumph over Red Cadeauxlast year, and the quinellas back up on Tuesday.

''Even a number of well-performed internationals could not make the final 24,'' Carpenter said of the depth and quality.

Still, the colonial product was strong, albeit on a more local level, before Vintage Crop. No doubt the changing face of the Melbourne Cup was emphasised on Saturday. ''Look at the final 24 this year, only three ran on Derby day, quite remarkable,'' Carpenter said. ''Eleven of Bart's previous 12 Cup winners started in the Mackinnon or Lexus, yet he chose not to run Sanagas and Precedence.''

Before Vintage Crop, many Melbourne Cups will be remembered more for the outstanding performances, and character. In decades to come, we will look back on the more recent ''renewals''.

One of the strongest all-round fields was in the 1992Cup, won by Subzero, hardly a champion, beating Veandercross and Castletown. Behind them were Better Loosen Up and Super Impose, regarded by many as champions, plus a supporting cast of winners of five Derbies, five Oaks, with others which held group triumphs in the Rosehill Guineas, Sydney Cup, Adelaide Cup and Wellington Cup.

The top-liners, steadied under top weights, didn't get into a place. Better Loosen Up and Super Impose had 59kg. But while Super Impose, one of Australia's greatest milers, had been second in a previous Melbourne Cup, the gelding was three years younger and under 56kg (in 1989).

My best three Melbourne Cups for character and class went to Galilee (1966), Rain Lover (1969) and Gold And Black (1977). Of course, there is a strong Cummings influence.

Back in 1966, near the furlong Light Fingers looked likely to be the first mare to take two Melbourne Cups, challenging Duo, the winner of the The Metrop at Randwick. Galilee breezed past them.

Thus in successive years Cummings had prepared two quinellas in Australia's greatest race. In 1965, Light Fingers nosed out Ziema.

Galilee, though, was special: he had finished third to Tobin Bronze in the Mackinnon at Flemington when the master was establishing a pattern for success in two-milers. Jockey John Miller had anxious moments when stewards questioned him about what was felt to be a cold ride. More freezing, actually. Miller was told to use more vigour in future. On the final day of the Flemington program, he easily accounted for Tobin Bronze, an outstanding racehorse, confirming the ability of Galilee.

Perhaps Gold And Black lacked the charisma of other Cummings winners but runner-up Reckless made up for it. Reckless had earlier notched the Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane Cups, a first. Reckless was trained by Tommy Woodcock, 72 at the time and a legend due to his close association with Phar Lap.

While Reckless didn't have a Saturday lead-up - Gold And Black went around in the Mackinnon - he came from what was described as a ''seemingly hopeless position'' to finish second. Reckless loomed large with 200 metres to go but the Cummings magic worked again. Many figured lack of the Saturday run cost Reckless the Cup. The strength of the form was confirmed by minor placegetter, Hyperno, then trained by Geoff Murphy. Hyperno had only 52kg but in 1979, now with Cummings, he won the Big One with 56kg.

Cummings was put out of play in the 1969 Melbourne Cup when Big Philou was nobbled but what a performance by Rain Lover, beaten in the Mackinnon. Under 9st.7lbs. (60.5kg) he was sent to the front early in the straight by Jim Johnson and was able to withstand the challenge of Alsop (47.5kg). The minimum weight was carried by Wyscan (44.5kg). In Tuesday's greatest ever chapter, Dunaden has 59kg with Kelinni on the bottom with 51kg.