Sea Moon is the equal best raider to land in Australian hands, according to Timeform's Gary Crispe.

"Only Reliable Man (who thrashed It's A Dundeel in the autumn's Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick) would rate on par,'' Crispe said.

He said Sea Moon should dominate weight-for-age races at 2000m and beyond -- including the Cox Plate -- if he brings his glittering international form Down Under.

Some high-profile raiders struggle to recapture European form. Others, such as Puissance De Lune, climb rapidly to new marks. Owner Lloyd Williams would speculate about what Sea Moon might achieve this spring, before the import's much anticipated Aussie debut in Saturday's Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. The 1600m Makybe Diva clash with Puissance De Lune is expected to have a major impact on Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup betting.

In a text, Williams said: "Track gallops not a reliable guide. The race pressure tells if they have settled into southern hemisphere. I'll tell you next Monday.''

Puissance De Lune's trainer Darren Weir said he had not taken much notice of Sea Moon's outstanding overseas performances, but was wary.

"I've seen him gallop between races, and he's a very nice horse,'' Weir said.

"They say he's the deal, so it will be very interesting.''

Crispe said Sea Moon's international form was only a couple of lengths inferior to the mighty So You Think. Such form, he said, would have won about nine of the past 10 Cox Plates.

As a three-year-old, Sea Moon thrashed Al Kazeem and Seville over 2400m at York, England, and ran second to the outstanding St Nicholas Abbey in the 2000m Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs, Kentucky. Last year he dashed away from Dunaden and Red Cadeaux to win the 2400m Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has not raced since finishing down the track as a $16 chance in last year's 2400m Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Crispe said: "It will be interesting Saturday whether he is sharp enough to win at 1600m, but these horses tend to find a turn of foot under our training regimes.''

Article taken from The Herald Sun, published on Wednesday, 4th September 2013, Author, Matt Stewart, Page 76.