Newmarket Spring Carnival Quarantine Begins
A total of 16 horses began their two week quarantine stint in Newmarket yesterday before they fly out to Melbourne, arriving in Australia on 30 September, where they will then complete two weeks post-animal quarantine at the Werribee International Horse Centre.
Among the European contingent headed to the spring carnival is Red Cardinal (Montjeu), trained by Andreas Wohler and raced by Australian Bloodstock, the same connections as Protectionist (Monsun), who won the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) in 2014.
The winner of the Belmont Cup Invitational Stakes (Gr 3, 16f) in June, Red Cardinal will joined in quarantine by Marmelo (Duke Of Marmalade), who beat into fifth in the Prix Kergorlay (Gr 2, 3000m) at Deauville last month.
Marmelo is trained in Lambourn by Hughie Morrison and currently holds entries for both the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) and Melbourne Cup.
After coming so close to winning the Melbourne Cup last year with the ill-fated Heartbreak City (Lando), Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock will hope they can go one better this year with French raider Tiberian (Tiberius Caesar), who also entered quarantine in Newmarket yesterday.
Owned in partnership with Earl Haras Du Logis, Heiko Volz and Stefan Falk, the Alain Couetil-trained Tiberian has won four of his past five starts, with his most recent victory coming in last month’s Grand Prix de Deauville (Gr 2, 2500m) at Deauville. The five-year-old entire will not have a lead up run and head straight to the Melbourne Cup on 7 November.
Meanwhile, Irish champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins has sent Wicklow Brave (Beat Hollow) and Riven Light (Raven’s Pass) into quarantine. It will be Wicklow Brave’s second trip to Australia having run in the Melbourne Cup last year, following his victory in the Irish St Leger (Gr 1, 1m6f).
Meanwhile, Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) nominee Riven Light entered the facility fresh from his victory in the Listowel Stakes (Listed, 1m1f) on Wednesday.
Another notable horse to have entered quarantine in preparation for the trip to Melbourne is Kaspersky (Footstepsinthesand), who is trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam. Michelle Payne’s intended ride in the Cox Plate ran back to form last week when second in the Superior Mile Stakes (Gr 3, 1m) at Haydock, and looks set to tackle the Toorak Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) at Caulfield on 14 October.
The William Haggas-trained and OTI Racing owned Fastnet Tempest (Fastnet Rock) has also entered Newmarket quarantine alongside the Hugo Palmer-trained Wall Of Fire (Canford Cliffs), who has been earmarked for a tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
“They’ve all arrived in good order,” Jim Paltridge, managing director of IRT told ANZ Bloodstock News yesterday.
“The Newmarket-based horses were out on the gallops this morning and came in after that and the others travelled over today. They will all be going out tomorrow afternoon (today).”
Meanwhile, Godolphin UK’s head trainer Charlie Appleby has entered four horses into Godolphin quarantine, as they are prepared for an assault on the spring carnival.
They include Francis of Assisi (Danehill Dancer), who claimed last year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 3, 2600m) at Flemington, and is entered for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, for which he has been allocated 54 kilograms
Francis of Assisi is joined in quarantine by his stablemate Qewy (Street Cry), won the Geelong Cup (Gr 3, 2400m), before finishing fourth in the Melbourne Cup, and could return for the Flemington showpiece after being handed 53 kilograms for the Group One.
The Appleby quartet is completed by the Group One-placed Folkswood (Exceed And Excel), who holds an entry for the Cox Plate and is a likely Caulfield Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) contender and stablemate Kidmenever (Baltic King).
Read ANZ’s daily Quarantine Diary to keep up to date with all the horses heading to the spring carnival.
Horses In Quarantine In Newmarket
Red Cardinal, Andreas Wohler (Ger)
Wicklow Brave, Willie Mullins (Ire)
Tiberian, Alain Couetil (Fra)
Francis Of Assisi, Charlie Appleby (UK)
Kaspersky, Jane Chapple-Hyam (UK)
Steel Of Madrid, Tony McEvoy (Aus)
Folkswood, Charlie Appleby (UK)
Marmelo, Hughie Morrison (UK)
Qewy, Charlie Appleby (UK)
Wall Of Fire, Hugo Palmer (UK)
Riven Light, Willie Mullins (Ire)
Kidmenever, Charlie Appleby (UK)
Mask Of Time, Ciaron Maher (Aus)
Sixties Groove, Andreas Wohler (Ger)
Fastnet Tempest, William Haggas (UK)
Garcia, Darren Weir (Aus)