The gamble-within-the-gamble got underway among the vast brigade of international raiders at the Werribee quarantine centre on Monday with 12 of the 16 horses in residence at Werribee appearing on the training track.

The dozen who saddled up and walked, trotted and cantered were all reported fit and well with most of the interest centring on those who didn't appear.

In particular, the English-trained Jakkalberry attracted most inquiries after he was kept inside the stable compound where he bucked and kicked while being walked by groom Alex Cairns.

"He handled the trip really well ... he ate and drank all the way," Cairns said.

Despite the horse's apparent good health, Cairns said trainer Marco Botti saw no reason to depart from the plan to give the horse two days rest before any exercise.

"You can think that they've done really well, but if you do too much with them too soon after a trip like they've had, you can get it wrong," Cairns said.

"The horse is very well and very happy, he'll be out on the track tomorrow (Tuesday)."

Jakkalberry is scheduled to run in the $2.65 million Caulfield Cup before the $6.5 million Melbourne Cup and Cairns said he will do little serious work in Melbourne.

"He's come here very fit and he had a good gallop the day before we got on the plane," he said.

Jakkalberry, a seasoned traveller, is a last-start winner of the American St Leger (2700m) in Chicago.

In the past 12 months he has also raced in England, Italy, Hong Kong and Dubai, performing creditably in each location.

Before his latest victory, he had won nine races, all in Italy, from 23 starts.

The seven-year-old is owned by a syndicate headed by Australian Darren Dance.