A slow canter by an old Irish gelding at Sandown drew applause from his trainer, a sigh of relief from his owner and the undivided attention of a media army.

The entire entourage held its collective breath as Holy Orders, the 50-1 shot who has stolen the Melbourne Cup limelight from his better-fancied rivals, walked, trotted and, finally, cantered.

After 10 days of behaving badly, Holy Orders was doing what he was supposed to, and put the mission for which he has travelled 10,000km back on his schedule.

"He's in a much happier frame of mind this morning," said his trainer Willie Mullins.

"And so am I."

For reasons that are not entirely clear, Holy Orders had refused to train.

From the time he arrived in Melbourne last week he had rejected all attempts to do more than walk - and buck.

His handler, Tracey Gilmour, did all she could. Mullins, who arrived on Wednesday, scratched his head. A local trainer did his best with a stockwhip.

But until Friday, Holy Orders had failed to respond.

Mullins still isn't sure what caused his horse's ill temper, but for now he is putting it down to loneliness.

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