Almandin

Order Of St George can prove himself the world's greatest stayer later this week when he goes out as hot favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup in England, but victory will do nothing to help improve the Melbourne Cup prospects of his part-owner Lloyd Williams.

Victory in the 4000m Group 1 for the even-money favourite will instead rule him out of an Australian trip as the handicapper is certain to weight him out of the 2016 Melbourne Cup.

But Williams' Melbourne Cup prospects could still receive a decent boost this week as locally, the German import Almandin is likely to finally make his Australian debut after numerous false starts due to the stallion's failure to acclimatise.

Almandin and fellow import Chance To Dance, who put in an eye-catching run first-up at Flemington last month, are both entered for the 1600m Handicap at Moonee Valley this Saturday.

It has now been more than two years since his most recent race start but import Almandin looks likely to run this weekend as the forecast is for rain later this week and Almandin is one horse that does not perform on hard tracks.

Almandin started just six times in Europe and was never out of the placings. He ran second at Longchamp behind subsequent five-time Group 1 winner Solow and at his last run before coming to Australia in late 2014, he beat subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist in Germany.

Williams explained last month that Almandin took a long time to find his feet in Australia.

"He didn't acclimatise at all when he came out here," Williams said.

"He got a lung infection and he's been here for two years in November, but he's a nice horse as he showed at his last start when he beat Protectionist.

"He's a Monsun and they take time anyway but we just need to get the sting out of the track."