The plane carrying 19 overseas raiders chasing Spring Racing Carnival glory touched down at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport just after 8am this morning, with all horses reported to be in good condition upon arrival.
The horses, which include five from Aidan O’Brien’s world-famous Ballydoyle stable, are currently settling into their new surroundings at Racing Victoria’s (RV) Werribee International Horse Centre, where they will complete their mandatory quarantine period before being unleashed on Victorian racetracks.
Despite a lengthy delay at Sharjah airport to repair a cracked windscreen on their cargo plane, the horses have shown no signs of ill effects according to leading equine vet Dr. Des Leadon, who completed the journey with them.
Each stable’s appointed veterinarian, in consultation with RV’s veterinarian team, will monitor their horse(s) over the coming hours and days to ensure that they remain in sound physical condition.
Dr Leadon said: “Other than some slight weight loss, which is often the result of long distance journeys, and some understandable fatigue, the horses were all in sound condition when they were inspected by vets upon arrival in Melbourne. They will continue to be monitored, but at this stage there are no health issues to report.
“The horses were absolute heroes and all accepted the challenges they faced without batting an eyelid. They were looked after every step of the way by a highly experienced and professional team of grooms, so were in very safe hands.
“The air quality and hygiene levels on the plane were kept to an excellent standard throughout their journey, and I would like to thank all parties for the professionalism and consideration shown to the horses at all times.”
Group 2 winner Cliffs Of Moher, who is prominent in the markets for both the Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), heads O’Brien’s five-strong team.
He was joined on the flight by his stable companion Yucatan, who also holds Caulfield and Melbourne Cup entries, and fellow Ballydoyle residents Fleet Review, Spirit of Valor and Intelligence Cross, who will target sprint races across the Spring Racing Carnival.
The Roger Charlton-trained Withhold, currently the joint second favourite for the Melbourne Cup, was another notable traveller together with Red Verdon, who will be aiming to go one better than his trainer Ed Dunlop’s popular warrior Red Cadeaux, the only horse to finish runner-up three times in the ‘race that stops a nation’.
Duretto, whose most recent run produced a gutsy victory in the Listed Chester Stakes at the start of the month, was also on the plane. Duretto is trained in England by frequent Spring Racing Carnival visitor Andrew Balding, who won the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes with Side Glance in 2013.
Having been sent to Australian trainers, eleven horses on the shipment only required a one-way ticket.
They include the highly-progressive stayer Count Octave, who will now be raced by Aquis Farm in conjunction with Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing and musical theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Along with Finche, Casterton and Shraaoh, once he has completed quarantine Count Octave will join the stable of Sydney’s premier trainer, Chris Waller.
The other horses remaining on Australian soil are: Dal Harraild, Pharrell (both Ciaron Maher and David Eustace), Danon Distance (Anthony Freedman), Langley (Darren Weir), Gustavus Vassa (Lindsay Park), Marathon Man and Sound Check (Mike Moroney).
In addition to the arrivals from Europe, high-class Japanese gallopers Chestnut Coat and Sole Impact are scheduled to land in Melbourne around 12pm tomorrow (Monday, 1 October).
The 19 international horses which landed this morning are listed in alphabetical order below:
- Casterton (Chris Waller)
- Cliffs Of Moher (Aidan O’Brien)
- Count Octave (Chris Waller)
- Dal Harraild (Ciaron Maher and David Eustace)
- Danon Distance (Anthony Freedman)
- Duretto (Andrew Balding)
- Finche (Chris Waller)
- Fleet Review (Aidan O’Brien)
- Gustavus Vassa (Lindsay Park)
- Intelligence Cross (Aidan O’Brien)
- Langley (Darren Weir)
- Marathon Man (Mike Moroney)
- Pharrell (Ciaron Maher and David Eustace)
- Red Verdon (Ed Dunlop)
- Shraaoh (Chris Waller)
- Sound Check (Mike Moroney)
- Spirit of Valor (Aidan O’Brien)
- Withhold (Roger Charlton)
- Yucatan (Aidan O’Brien)