Twelve Irish-trained horses are among the 29 European thoroughbreds that recently entered pre-export quarantine in Ireland and England in preparation for Victoria’s 2020 Spring Racing Carnival.
The high-class contingent, which includes 16 internationally trained horses and 13 horses who will join Australian trainers upon their arrival down under, will complete two weeks quarantine before arriving in Melbourne on Friday, 2 October.
Upon arrival they will be required to undertake a further two weeks quarantine at the TAB Werribee International Horse Centre before being permitted to race from Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Day – Saturday, 17 October – onwards.
The list of horses that have entered quarantine is:
1. Anthony Van Dyck – Aidan O’Brien
2. Armory – Aidan O’Brien
3. Magic Wand – Aidan O’Brien
4. Tiger Moth – Aidan O’Brien
5. Santiago – Aidan O’Brien
6. Wichita – Aidan O’Brien
7. Buckhurst – Joseph O’Brien
8. Master of Reality – Joseph O’Brien
9. Pondus – Joseph O’Brien
10. Twilight Payment – Joseph O’Brien
11. Stratum – Willie Mullins
12. True Self – Willie Mullins
13. Ashrun – Andreas Wohler (Germany)
14. Aspetar – Roger Charlton (UK)
15. Dashing Willoughby – Andrew Balding (UK)
16. Prince of Arran – Charlie Fellowes (UK)
17. Involved – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
18. Sir Dragonet – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
19. Tinandali – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
20. Mr Satchmo – Chris Waller
21. Selino – Chris Waller
22. Almania – Kris Lees
23. Collide – Kris Lees
24. Le Don De Vie – Anthony & Sam Freedman
25. Nickajack Cave – Peter Moody
26. Port Guillaume – Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes
27. San Huberto – Matt Cumani
28. Skyward – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
29. Sound of Cannons – John O’Shea
RV General Manager – International & Racing Operations, Paul Bloodworth, said: “It’s an incredibly talented group of horses led by Anthony Van Dyck who will be the first Epsom Derby winner to compete in Australia. There’s a terrific blend of horses that will be very familiar to Australian racing fans and punters, along with some of the emerging talent that has been in great form in Europe throughout this year.
“Prince of Arran, True Self and Magic Wand were all feature winners in Victoria during last year’s Spring Racing Carnival so we’re really pleased to see them on the way back, while Twilight Payment and Master of Reality both contested last year’s Melbourne Cup, the latter of course being second past the post before being demoted to fourth on protest.
“The Lexus Melbourne Cup, Stella Artois Caulfield Cup and Ladbrokes Cox Plate are the primary targets for many of the horses that have entered pre-export quarantine, but not all are guaranteed starts so you can expect to see a number of them contesting other feature races throughout the Carnival which will add great depth and generate plenty of interest” Bloodworth added.
