Tony Arrold writes - The message has been made clear globally that the massive prizemoney is up for grabs simply because the home defence of the Australian stayer is sub-standard, if not poor.
While the VRC deservedly takes congratulatory pats on the back for a cracking good marketing job of selling its showcase product abroad, it also stands accused of exposing this stamina weakness to the world.
It would be wrong, though, to presume the VRC has breached one of its primary rules of bringing racing into disrepute — but, golly, the reputation of the Australian-bred stayer has surely suffered internationally as a consequence of the host club's intensive and aggressive overseas marketing drive for the Cup.
The VRC are responsible for providing the best race they can and do what they have to in order to make that happen.
Likewise, Australian breeders that wish to produce horses capable of running in
our greatest race need to have a think about how they are going to make that
happen.One farm not frightened to open the door to breeding a top class stayer is Eliza Park International, who have welcomed Melbourne Cup and Australian Cup heroFiorente (IRE) into the fold this year.
Second in the 2012 Melbourne Cup at his first run in Australia, Fiorente returned the following spring to deliver a lifelong dream for Gai Waterhouse in winning the Melbourne Cup.
His path to the Cup last spring took in all the traditional weight-for-age features with a win in the Group II MVRC Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at a mile at Moonee Vallery preceding a luckless fourth beaten half a length in the Group I VRC Turnbull Stakes and a courageous third in the Cox Plate to Shamus Award.
Drawn 14 of 14 in the Cox Plate and ridden forward by Blake Shinn, contrary to his regular pattern of racing, many believe Fiorente should have won that race and with different tactics probably would have.
He followed with his memorable Cup triumph and then added the Group I VRC Australian Cup over 2000 metres to his resume in the autumn for good measure.
Fiorente has only to produce offspring with a fraction of his talent and he'll be a success in the breeding barn.
From a European female family steeped in Black Type, Fiorente is by the
champion German sire Monsun, who died at age 22 in 2012.The virtual Redoute's Choice of Germany, Monsun sired over 100 stakes-winners and like Redoute's Choice has made his mark as a sire of sires.
His last crop of yearlings have been in keen demand at European sales this year, a filly from Sasuela fetching 1.2 million euros at the Arqana Deauville Sale last month, while a colt from Flashing Colour made 450,000 euros at the BBAG Sale at Baden-Baden in Germany on Tuesday.
From limited numbers of runners in Australia, Monsun and his sire sons have enjoyed considerable success with Fiorente the obvious standout.
Monsun has had four winners from six runners including Fiorente, stakes-winner Midsummer Sun, plus Chris Waller's city winner, Saghann.
His sire sons have also figured with Shirocco having two winners from five runners led by stakes-winner Ibicenco, Kris Lees' trained city winner Sommernachtstraum and visiting stayer Brown Panther, who was eighth in the Melbourne Cup last year.
Another son in Manduro has had only three runners, but two of them in Greatwood and Bonfire filled the quinella in the Listed ATC Premiers Cup at Rosehill last Saturday for Gai Waterhouse and are both Cups bound.
All up for Monsun and his sire sons in Australia that is seven winners from 14 runners – four stakes winners and one stakes-placed - for over $7 million in prizemoney.
Is it any wonder that Tony Arrold went on to make mention of the 'Monsun effect'.
"The Monsun effect should be noted among the international entries, with Protectionist marking time to be the first German-trained runner in the Cup.
"A lightly raced four-year-old son of Monsun, Protectionist was confirmed as a Melbourne visitor after he won the Group II Prix Kergolay (3000m) at Deauville, France, on August 24 — the race French-trained Americain won in 2010 before his successful raid on the Melbourne Cup."
Protectionist isn't the only high profile entry for Monsun either with The Queen keeping her options open for her high class staying mare Estimate, winner of the Group I Ascot Gold Cup last year.
For Australian breeders looking to tap into the 'Monsun effect' and breed a spring star of tomorrow, Fiorente stands at a fee of $17,600.
From limited numbers of runners in Australia, Monsun and his sire sons have enjoyed considerable success with Fiorente the obvious standout.
Monsun has had four winners from six runners including Fiorente, stakes-winner Midsummer Sun, plus Chris Waller's city winner, Saghann.
His sire sons have also figured with Shirocco having two winners from five runners led by stakes-winner Ibicenco, Kris Lees' trained city winner Sommernachtstraum and visiting stayer Brown Panther, who was eighth in the Melbourne Cup last year.
Another son in Manduro has had only three runners, but two of them in Greatwood and Bonfire filled the quinella in the Listed ATC Premiers Cup at Rosehill last Saturday for Gai Waterhouse and are both Cups bound.
All up for Monsun and his sire sons in Australia that is seven winners from 14 runners – four stakes winners and one stakes-placed - for over $7 million in prizemoney.
Is it any wonder that Tony Arrold went on to make mention of the 'Monsun effect'.
"The Monsun effect should be noted among the international entries, with Protectionist marking time to be the first German-trained runner in the Cup.
"A lightly raced four-year-old son of Monsun, Protectionist was confirmed as a Melbourne visitor after he won the Group II Prix Kergolay (3000m) at Deauville, France, on August 24 — the race French-trained Americain won in 2010 before his successful raid on the Melbourne Cup."
Protectionist isn't the only high profile entry for Monsun either with The Queen keeping her options open for her high class staying mare Estimate, winner of the Group I Ascot Gold Cup last year.
For Australian breeders looking to tap into the 'Monsun effect' and breed a spring star of tomorrow, Fiorente stands at a fee of $17,600.
