The international appeal of the Melbourne Cup will continue to build if Protectionist can give Germany its first win in Australia’s biggest race on Tuesday.

The Cup has gone to Ireland, France, Japan and of course New Zealand before, but never Germany.

Accomplished German trainer Andreas Wohler will have his first runner in the Cup in the lightly-raced Protectionist.

Wohler has raced horses around the world and has had two Cox Plate starters but is saddling up his first runner in the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup.

• 25 million reasons to save $10 on Melbourne Cup day

“I’ve always watched it from home,” Wohler said.

“It is a really interesting race and a traditional race. It is great to come here with a horse that has a lovely chance.”

Protectionist won high class races in Germany and France before making his Australian debut with an impressive fourth in the Herbert Power handicap at Caulfield on October 11.

That was only his ninth career start and Wohler said the horse is continuing to improve in training at Werribee.

“He ran well and has come on from that,” Wohler said.

“He knows his game and just keeps improving race by race.”

Protectionist, a five-year-old half-brother to last year’s winner Fiorente, headed Melbourne Cup betting after his Herbert Power run.

Japan’s Admire Rakti took over favouritism with a sensational win in the Caulfield Cup and Wohler nominates the Japanese top weight as the horse to beat.

Protectionist will be ridden by champion English jockey Ryan Moore fresh from his Cox Plate win on Irish galloper Adelaide.

The prospect of the Melbourne Cup again falling into international hands may alarm Australian trainers, but Racing Victoria’s international scout Leigh Jordan denies our great race is being dominated by the internationals.

“I know there has been talk about capping runners but the Australians will have about 13 runners,” Jordan said.

“The past two Cups have been won by Gai Waterhouse and Lloyd Williams. In the last 21 years of the Melbourne Cup there have been five international winners, so I wouldn’t say those stats represent a domination.”