The first shipment of international contenders for the spring carnival is due to arrive on the weekend.

A total of 15 horses will arrive at Melbourne's Tullamarine airport in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Five Godolphin horses from the Charlie Appleby yard will be among the first to arrive with another 10, including Cox Plate invitee Vadamoss, Willie Mullins' Irish St Leger winner Wicklow Brave and Aidan O'Brien's Caulfield Cup entrant Sir Issac Newton.

The international contenders have been in quarantine in England and Ireland over the past fortnight and are due to leave Heathrow on Thursday.

The 15 horses will spend a further two weeks in quarantine at Werribee.

Of the 15, six will stay in Australia.

Holler is returning for trainer John O'Shea while Endless Drama and Kinema are heading to Chris Waller, Exosphere to Lee and Anthony Freedman, Gallic Chieftain to Darren Weir with Grey Lion joining Matt Cumani.

Appleby's horses are Scottish, Francis Of Assisi, Second Wave, Qewy and Oceanographer with Articus coming out for Andreas Wohler.

The second shipment will arrive in Melbourne on Caulfield Cup day, October 15.