(the possible) Invasion of overseas horses for Melbourne Spring Carnival
August 6th 2008 05:36
Aidan O'Brien has previously dipped his toe into Australian racing to test the depth and prospects for success. There are obstacles and barriers to travelling horses all over the world - especially if the part of the world that is destination is so far from the prime stage of Europe. And even further from Ireland than the United States.
(photo: krista vandervoorden)
This year Aidan O'Brien has indicated an intention to jump into our fabulous (famous) Melbourne Spring Carnival - and in the process create a splash unprecedented by a European trainer and stable.
As Aidan O'Brien chases the record of Group One victories for a year he well recognises that there are several opportunities on offer in Australia. The Ballydoyle stable has entered fifteen horses and targeted our major Group One races: The BMW Caulfield Cup, The Tatts Cox Plate and the Emirates Melbourne Cup. O'Brien is even considering other Group One events, such as the Mackinnon Stakes.
And what a cavalcade of racing stars he has nominated:
Three time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats (entered for the Melbourne Cup)
Henrythenavigator, perhaps the best miler in the world (entered for the Cox Plate)
Duke Of Marmalade, an emerging staying superstar of Europe (another Cox Plate entry)
Frozen Fire, the emphatic winner of the Irish Derby (entered for the Caulfield Cup).
Imagine the clash between Weekend Hussler, Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Of course we should not get too excited because it is unlikely that most of those nominated will travel. Duke Of Marmalade is one of the favourites for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Henrythenavigator may head to the Breeders' Cup Classic. Perhaps most likely O'Brien will send Septimus (a strong possibility) and perhaps Yeats who has made the trip previously. And in addition one or two of the less well known nominations. As much as I would like to see (in addition) Henrythenavigator, Duke Of Marmalade and Frozen Fire contest our races, I think it is unlikely.
The depth and quality of the overseas contingent nominated for our Spring feature races firmly places our Spring carnival on the international racing calendar. But it will be the acceptances that ultimately decides the final significance.
Sixty-seven individual international entries have been received from some of the world's most powerful stables, from countries as surprising as Denmark (Alpacco), to the Irish invasion of Ballydoyle. Horses from Great Britain, France, the United States, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Japan, all add to this list.
Obviously they will not all come - and if only the headliners from Ballydoyle were to arrive it would create world-wide interest.
In total, 282 entries were received for the Caulfield Cup (37 internationals); 172 (11 internationals) for the Cox Plate and 295 (56 internationals) for the Melbourne Cup.
The list of Ballydoyle horses for our feature races:
Melbourne Cup:
Allesandro Volta
Bashkirov
Honolulu
MacArthur
Septimus
Yeats
Washington Irving
Caulfield Cup:
Allesandro Volta
Bashkirov
Honolulu
MacArthur
Mount Nelson
Plan
King Of Rome
Hebridian
Frozen Fire
Septimus
Zulu Chief
Cox Plate:
Duke Of Marmalade
Henrythenavigator
Hebridian
King Of Rome
Plan
Mount Nelson
As the racing year draws to a close - with our Spring Carnival being a major source of Group One events - it may be the lure of the record of Group One winners that will lead Aidan O'Brien to be less conservative than I anticipate (less conservative than history attests) and send some of his prize champions to Australia in quest of the final Group Wins. Can you imagine the prospect if O'Brien need one Group Winner to achieve his target? The focus of the racing world will be on Melbourne.
Frozen Fire entered for the Caulfield Cup
(photo: krista vandervoorden)
This year Aidan O'Brien has indicated an intention to jump into our fabulous (famous) Melbourne Spring Carnival - and in the process create a splash unprecedented by a European trainer and stable.
As Aidan O'Brien chases the record of Group One victories for a year he well recognises that there are several opportunities on offer in Australia. The Ballydoyle stable has entered fifteen horses and targeted our major Group One races: The BMW Caulfield Cup, The Tatts Cox Plate and the Emirates Melbourne Cup. O'Brien is even considering other Group One events, such as the Mackinnon Stakes.
And what a cavalcade of racing stars he has nominated:
Three time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats (entered for the Melbourne Cup)
Henrythenavigator, perhaps the best miler in the world (entered for the Cox Plate)
Duke Of Marmalade, an emerging staying superstar of Europe (another Cox Plate entry)
Frozen Fire, the emphatic winner of the Irish Derby (entered for the Caulfield Cup).
Imagine the clash between Weekend Hussler, Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Of course we should not get too excited because it is unlikely that most of those nominated will travel. Duke Of Marmalade is one of the favourites for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Henrythenavigator may head to the Breeders' Cup Classic. Perhaps most likely O'Brien will send Septimus (a strong possibility) and perhaps Yeats who has made the trip previously. And in addition one or two of the less well known nominations. As much as I would like to see (in addition) Henrythenavigator, Duke Of Marmalade and Frozen Fire contest our races, I think it is unlikely.
The depth and quality of the overseas contingent nominated for our Spring feature races firmly places our Spring carnival on the international racing calendar. But it will be the acceptances that ultimately decides the final significance.
Sixty-seven individual international entries have been received from some of the world's most powerful stables, from countries as surprising as Denmark (Alpacco), to the Irish invasion of Ballydoyle. Horses from Great Britain, France, the United States, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Japan, all add to this list.
Obviously they will not all come - and if only the headliners from Ballydoyle were to arrive it would create world-wide interest.
In total, 282 entries were received for the Caulfield Cup (37 internationals); 172 (11 internationals) for the Cox Plate and 295 (56 internationals) for the Melbourne Cup.
The list of Ballydoyle horses for our feature races:
Melbourne Cup:
Allesandro Volta
Bashkirov
Honolulu
MacArthur
Septimus
Yeats
Washington Irving
Caulfield Cup:
Allesandro Volta
Bashkirov
Honolulu
MacArthur
Mount Nelson
Plan
King Of Rome
Hebridian
Frozen Fire
Septimus
Zulu Chief
Cox Plate:
Duke Of Marmalade
Henrythenavigator
Hebridian
King Of Rome
Plan
Mount Nelson
As the racing year draws to a close - with our Spring Carnival being a major source of Group One events - it may be the lure of the record of Group One winners that will lead Aidan O'Brien to be less conservative than I anticipate (less conservative than history attests) and send some of his prize champions to Australia in quest of the final Group Wins. Can you imagine the prospect if O'Brien need one Group Winner to achieve his target? The focus of the racing world will be on Melbourne.
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