In Britain, as Australians have learned over several spring carnivals, racing is done differently.

This spring yet another of those differences will be revealed when one of England's most astute trainers John Gosden runs Gatewood, one of the better international candidates.

Gosden has followed a career path that is fairly typical among trainers in Britain but quite foreign to their counterparts in Australia.

The son of a trainer, he attended a top public school, graduated with an economics degree from Cambridge University and then went back to a racing stable to begin his working life.

In Gosden's case, it wasn't just any racing stable in which he started the career that has made him one of the most respected horsemen in Europe.

Gosden, a lover of fine art and opera, learned his craft first as assistant trainer to Ireland's greatest trainer Dr Vincent O'Brien, later transferring to England's then-leading trainer Sir Noel Murless.

He then worked in America, taking out a licence in his own right there in 1979 and within four years he had produced the US Horse of the Year, the Eclipse Award winner Bates Motel.

A succession of major race wins followed in America over the next six years before Gosden returned to England where he has trained more than 2000 winners since 1989 and continues to win the world's greatest races.

Gatewood, Gosden's first runner in Australia, makes his local debut in Saturday's Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).

And if his European form means anything, he is in the race with serious claims.

At his most recent start in the Group Two Prix Deauville (2500m) in August, Gatewood finished a close second to Masterstroke who on Sunday ran third in Europe's best race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

From his previous seven starts Gatewood had won four times and is regarded as one of the classiest of the 16 horses in quarantine at Werribee.

Gatewood had an 1800m workout at Werribee on Monday that had his exercise rider Marcel Koren singing his praises.

"He has settled in beautifully, no problems, he's eating well and enjoying his work," Koren said.

"It is impossible to say what he will do on Saturday, but we are very happy and I expect him to show his form."

Gatewood is one of two foreign-trained horses among the 16 in the Herbert Power, Shahwardi being the other.

Gatewood will join the Chris Waller stable after his spring campaign.