Football legend Michael Owen part of record-breaking international invasion for Spring Carnival

THE Spring Carnival's international invasion will break records, with 11 more Euro horses - including Michael Owen's - bound for Melbourne.

Michael Owen

THE Spring Carnival's international invasion has adopted record-breaking proportions with 11 more European horses bound for Melbourne after entering quarantine in England overnight.

Included in a shipment described by Racing Victorian's international recruitment officer Leigh Jordon as the "best cross-section of international horses" ever to visit Australia are gallopers owned by the Aga Khan and star footballer Michael Owen.

With nine foreign carnival aspirants already in residence at the TAB Werribee quarantine centre, and a further 11 to arrive on October 19, that number could swell further depending on Godolphin's plans.

Owen's Brown Panther, the Aga Khan's Skikarpour, Red Cadeaux, Voleuse De Coeurs, Mount Athos and Verema will join 2011 Melbourne Cup winner and last season's Caulfield Cup Dunaden on the long flight to Melbourne.

The former England, Liverpool, and Manchester United striker took to Twitter this morning to express his excitement. 

Booked my flights out to Australia for The Melbourne Cup this morning. Brown Panther entered quarantine today. So excited!

— michael owen (@themichaelowen) October 3, 2013

French training wizard Alain de Royer Dupre, who masterminded Americain's 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup triumph, has also placed Verema into quarantine after the mare’s Group 2 Prix Kergolay (3000m) victory at Deauville.

He will target the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m).

Dunaden's trainer Mikel Delzangles will also bring crack three-year-old Havana Gold for a tilt at the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m).

Havana Gold earned the trip by winning the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat (1600m) in June.

Caravan Rolls, prepared by Peter Chapple-Hyam, will aim at the Emirates Melbourne Cup after notching five wins in 13 starts.

Also included in the next wave of arrivals is Tres Blue, to be trained by Gai Waterhouse.

Champion trainer David Hayes will take over Stipulate ahead of a tilt at the Emirates Stakes armed with a long-range view of tackling the 2014 Group 1 Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m).

Godolphin will finalise its plans after Royal Empire runs at Ascot this weekend.

If the Blue Army decides to launch another attack on Australian features, Royal Empire - and any other of its runners - will be flown to Melbourne privately after spending two weeks in quarantine in England.

The internationals already at Werribee continued a solid, slow build-up this morning with pace work.