An overseas runner has commanded much of the attention in the lead-up to Saturday's TAB Turnbull Stakes, but Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior is not the only international flavour to the $750,000 Group 1.
Simon and Ed Crisford-trained gelding West Wind Blows brings form from European races containing some of the world's best horses.
The son of Teofilo has won five of his 12 starts, the most recent win coming in the Group 3 La Coupe Stakes (2000m) at Longchamp, which was followed by a second placing in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2414m) at Royal Ascot and a third placing, albeit beaten 6-1/2 lengths, in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse (2011m) won by Paddington.
His final start before coming to Australia was a narrow second placing to Passenger in the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes (2011m) at Windsor on August 26.
West Wind Blows owns a peak Timeform rating of 120, which is six pounds down on Romantic Warrior's career-best figure.
Racing And Sports Adam Blencowe said while West Wind Blows is a worthy adversary for Romantic Warrior in the 2000m Turnbull, he is more excited about his prospects in the 2400m Caulfield Cup.
"He's a good horse, West Wind Blows, and he has run into horses who do operate in Romantic Warrior's world," Blencowe said.
"But, while he's run gamely against the likes of Paddington, Emily Upjohn, Desert Crown, Hurricane Lane and Pyledriver, he's lacked a gear that they have got and he should lack a gear that Romantic Warrior has got.
