Entries for the big spring majors – Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate - have been taken so we are going to have a look at some of the big contenders to see if they have any relevance at all to the Australian breeding industry.
The introduction of new vetting rules by Racing Victoria has halved the number of overseas entries for the Melbourne Cup from 30 to 15, although the overall number of entries is on a par with last year.
Australian Horse of the Year elect Verry Elleegant is entered for all spring majors and at age six is probably at the height of her powers.
Not offered at auction, she came to Australia from New Zealand as a tried horse and has won $8.5 million making her the best performer for her sire Zed, who stands at Grangewilliam Stud in New Zealand at a fee of $6,000.
Annabel Neasham’s boom import Zaaki (GB) is entered only for the Cox Plate. A 40,000gns purchase at the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Zaaki was then bought by Blandford Bloodstock / Annabel Neasham Racing for 150,000gns at the 2020 Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
Zaaki is the second best performer for his sire Leroidesanimaux, whose best offspring is Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom, who shuttled rather unsuccessfully to Arrowfield Stud for four seasons.
Entered for everything is star on the rise Incentivise, who joins the Peter Moody team.
Not offered at auction, Incentivise is by Cox Plate winner Shamus Award from the seriously good producer Miss Argyle, who is by Written Tycoon’s sire Iglesia. Stakes-placed Miss Argyle died in 2020, but has had eight foals to race all winners with Incentivise the best of her four stakes-winners.
Not offered at auction, Duais is a half-sister to Group III winner Baccarat Baby and claims legendary matriarch Fanfreluche as her fourth dam.
Triple Derby winner Explosive Jack (NZ) is entered for everything and was a $100,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase.
He is the best offspring of ill-fated sire Jakkalberry (IRE), who died in 2018.
Dual Group I winner and Australian Oaks queen Hungry Heart is entered for everything.
Retained to race by Yulong, she’s by one of the world’s best sires in Frankel.
Another dual Group I winning filly last season in Montefilia is also entered for everything.
A $130,000 Magic Millions purchase, Montefilia is the best offspring so far for Kermadec, who stands at Darley at a fee of $11,000.
Entered for everything is expensive import English King (FR), who will be looking to continue the golden run in big Australian staying features for his sire Camelot.
English King was a 210,000 euro purchase from Arqana as a yearling for bloodstock agent Jeremy Brummitt, who also signed the docket for Russian Camelot. English King then broke the record price for a colt in training at the 2020 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale when selling for 925,000 guineas to Paul Moroney Bloodstock.
He’s a blueblood being a half-brother to the dam of Group I stars Magic Wand and Chiquita.
Dark horse might by European blueblood Ironclad (GB), who was unremarkable in the UK, but is undefeated here albeit in easier grade.
Bought privately from Europe, he’s a Juddmonte bred half-brother to Group I winner Mirage Dancer by Dubawi from Group I winner Heat Haze, a daughter of blue hen Hasili.
Australian blue-bloods might not make much impression on our Australian staying spring features, but European bluebloods are right at home.
Click here for the Melbourne Cup entries or here for the Caulfield Cup nominations.
Click here for the Cox Plate entries.
