For decades now, Australian racing enthusiasts have been respectful and ever cautious of New Zealand racehorses visiting to contest our big races.
And for years, these horses would cross the ditch, win flagship races and return home as modern-day champions. 
Many have come boasting amazing strike rates, remarkable winning margins and times rarely seen in Australia. 
On Saturday, a three-year-old colt will arrive on Australian soil with a near perfect profile and attempt to lay claims to being the best three-year-old in both countries.
Xtravagant, the long-striding son of Pentire, arrives for Saturday's Australian Guineas with a  big reputation.
Former Kiwi trainer Mike Moroney, who has training bases in both countries, knows a bit about Xtravagant.
It's with good reason he has taken such an interest in the colt.
"I went to the sales in New Zealand two years ago and I couldn't take my eyes off him," he said. "We look at a lot of yearlings and we can be critical of a lot of them but this bloke's catalogue page just had all ticks.
"I went round and saw him two or three times at the sales and had his groom take him out of the box and you couldn't help but marvel at him. He was just a gorgeous colt with a lovely walk and great shape - he just had everything."
Moroney took his position in the sale ring and the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer practically had a collar and lead on Xtravagant after holding a bid of $320,000, only to be bettered seconds before the auctioneer's hammer came down.
Matamata trainer Stephen Autridge and assistant trainer James Richards took Xtravagant home after New Zealand's David Ellis ended up as the successful buyer.
"I made a point of following his career. He's an extremely talented horse with so much scope and he'll make a lovely stallion one day," Moroney said.
Autridge, brother of former champion jockey Toby Autridge, is from a well-known New Zealand racing family.
"They're like racing royalty and they have a rich history," Moroney said. "They know their horses and for that matter the Moroneys grew up pretty close to the Autridges and we've managed to train and ride winners for each other over the years.
"But there's still gentle rivalry and I'll possibly have two horses up against them in the Australian Guineas, they being talented youngsters Tivaci and Tulsa."
Co-trainer Richards said that apart from the annoying flight delay, Xtravagant had been unaffected by the change of schedule.
"Actually he went for a swim and had pretty much a relaxing day. We were the ones worrying about getting a flight," he said.
Autridge will be at Flemington on Saturday while Richards will remain at home to look after their vast team of 80 at their Matamata base.
"I've got to say everything he's done has been very much what very, very good horses do," Richards said. "In fact, he's doing things that I've never seen other horses do. He's got a wonderful way about him but we'll do the right thing and we won't push him."
When asked if Xtravagant would wait another week and tackle the weight-for-age Australian Cup, he said the horse would not be pushed to do anything he couldn't cope with.
"That's a matter for after the Guineas. That means we'll have a meeting on the Monday before the Australian Cup and have a look at it.
"As we've said all along, he won't go to Sydney. We feel he's a better horse the left-handed way so it will either be an Australian Cup start or straight back to New Zealand," he said.
There are lofty plans for Xtravagant if his winning sequence continues next year.
"We were thinking of taking him to Royal Ascot but he's only three and in the northern hemisphere time he'd have to concede those horses a year, so we'd rather wait until next year," he said.
There have also been several major studs making inquiries about securing the strong and athletic son of Pentire.
"There has been interest at home in New Zealand but when we went up to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions there were some very big studs keen to talk about his future," Richards said.
Over the years, New Zealand has supplied some outstanding racehorses but some have struggled in Australia.
On Saturday, Xtravagant will be another who will be trying to establish his credentials across the Tasman.
Based on what Moroney and his old friend from Matamata believe, he will certainly take some beating.