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Imports Dubhe and He’s Eminent pleased leading jockeys Kerrin McEvoy and James McDonald when they rounded off their preparations for their Group One assignments at Randwick on Saturday with soft workouts at Canterbury on Wednesday morning.

Kerrin McEvoy got the feel of his Sydney Cup mount Dubhe for the first time and was impressed by the leisurely gallop from the Charlie Appleby-trained stayer.

The lightly-raced winner of three of his seven career starts worked at three-quarter pace, his last 600m in a pedestrian 43.7 seconds underlining just how much he had in reserve at the end of his work.

“Charlie said he's very laid back in his work and that's how he felt,' McEvoy reported after the gallop.

"He went around in cruise mode. He looks bright and healthy in the coat and stretched out nicely once he warmed up.

"He looks very genuine, he stays well and he has a turn of foot. That will take you a long way in a Sydney Cup.”

No UK trainer has enjoyed more success bringing horses to Australian carnivals that Appleby, a record that gives McEvoy confidence Dubhe will justify his favouritism for the Sydney Cup.

"Charlie has pinpointed what's required in travelling horses and which horses to bring and that gives you confidence,” McEvoy said.

Since his first visit to Australia in 2016 Appleby’s runners have won 10 Group and Listed races including the 2017 Sydney Cup with Polarisation and last year’s Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter, giving McEvoy his third win in Australia’s greatest race.

Appleby’s Australian success began with Qewy in the 2016 Geelong Cup, a stayer who also won the Sandown Cup that spring and returned to win the Bendigo Cup in 2017.

Appleby’s other Australian winners have been Francis Of Assisi (2016 Bendigo Cup; 2016 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes); Oceanographer (2016 Lexus Stakes); Folkwood (2017 Cranbourne Cup); and Jungle Cat (2018 Sire Rupert Clarke Stakes).

Dubhe was set for the Sydney Cup after he won his latest start over the Sydney Cup distance of 3200m at Meydan in Dubai on February 7, Appleby passing up other feature race options that were open him in the UAE to target the $2 million Randwick feature.

Sydney Cup favourite Dubhe puts in some three quarter pace work with in the saddle, last 600m in 43.7. pic.twitter.com/oFZC7MvNgq

— The Championships April 9, 2019

James McDonald was also at Canterbury on Wednesday to ride his Queen Elizabeth Stakes mount He’s Eminent in his final work before he takes on Winx in in her final career start in Saturday’s $4 million headline race.

He's Eminent went a bit quicker than Dubhe, running home his last 600m in 38.97 at the end of pace work under a good hold from McDonald.

"He is working with great purpose and is finishing off well. He's getting harder and harder to pull up,' said a satisfied McDonald.

McDonald may hold the key to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with his tactics in the first half of the 2000m event after He’s Eminent led at a strong pace and fought on strongly to finish second to Avilius in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 23 when making his Australian debut.

Trainer Sir Mark Todd has suggested He’s Eminent doesn’t have to lead if another runner wants to take it up from the start and will leave tactics up to McDonald.

"You have to ride your own horse and if he's good enough he's good enough,” McDonald said.

He’s Eminent with riding gallops at Canterbury ahead of the Queen Elizabeth. Last 600m in a leisurely 38.97 under a hold. pic.twitter.com/hQ6WDzsN3q

— The ChampionshipsApril 9, 2019