The Cox Plate prospects of the race’s lone international runner Afsare remain alive despite a leg injury that has upset his training program.

The Luca Cumani-trained Afsare suffered the injury to his near side foreleg during exercise on Tuesday but has made steady improvement since.

“It started to get some filling on Tuesday night after he worked that morning but it has continued to come down in the days since,” Cumani’s foreman, Charlie Henson, said.

“We’re taking it day-by-day but at the moment we are still on track for the Cox Plate.”

Cumani’s wife and unofficial co-trainer Sara made her 2012 debut at the Werribee quarantine and training centre on Friday to partner Melbourne Cup favourite Mount Athos in what she described as pleasing work.

“They all look great, probably done better than any of our previous horses that have come to Australia,” Cumani said.

Also on the improve after a less-than-ideal flight to Australia is Dermot Weld’s Melbourne Cup aspirant Galileo’s Choice.

The horse, who has had an easy time over his first 10 days at Werribee, did his most serious work under rider Tom Daly on Friday, coming through the steady gallop in good order.

The 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain did his regular even-time gallop ahead of a possible trip to Caulfield on Saturday morning for a more serious piece of work.

Handler Stephanie Nigge said the horse was almost certain to make the trip but would do only slow work if the track was too firm.

Nigge said Americain still needs to shed some weight if he is to run in next weekend’s Caulfield Cup.

Americain’s stablemate Shahwardi is also off to Caulfield on Saturday along with the English import Gatewood to run in the Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).