Gallopin Towards Melbourne Cup
26 October 2008
On a day when New Zealand bred galloper Maldivian took highest honours in the Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, fellow Kiwis Gallopin, Millbank and Bird of Prey also impressed with stakes wins in Melbourne.
Executing part of a year-long plan, trainer Danny O'Brien was "very confident" heading into the Group 2 $250,000 Cathay Pacific Airways Cup (2500m) that his five-year-old Karaka graduate, Gallopin, would perform well enough to keep the 2008 Melbourne Cup in his sights.
Following Gallopin's win O'Brien confirmed, "He's had the right prep for it so we will keep progressing to the Cup," said O'Brien.
"I have a very good opinion of this horse as a stayer. Getting out to the distances that suit him you can really see what he can do."
Bred by M McKechnie from the Spectacular Love mare, Carla Rossi, Gallopin is by Waikato Stud sire Pins, sire of last year's Cox Plate winner, El Segundo. Bought at New Zealand Bloodstock's Select Sale for $40,000, Gallopin is already the winner of eight of his 18 starts, and over $500,000 in prizemoney.
Raced by Len Phillips, Mr S Phillips and Mr B Whittaker, Gallopin's part-owner Len Phillips was jubilant after the win.
"This is the first horse we have ever brought to Australia and it's a dream come true. We thought maybe next year's [Melbourne Cup] would be our aim but it's come sooner than we thought."
Earlier in the day another Karaka graduate impressed, with Millbank taking out the Group 3 $126,000 Wonderful World Stakes (1200m) for trainer John Sadler.
Bred by WH Holdings Ltd from the Woodman mare Woodini, the three-year-old son of Keeper was purchased as a yearling from Karaka for $64,000 from Te Mania Thoroughbreds. Now raced by Lloyd Williams, his wife Susie and son Nick, Millbank is the exciting winner of three of his four career starts.
In the last on the Moonee Valley card, the Group 3 Inglis Mile, a third Karaka Select Sale graduate saluted. This time is was Stravinsky filly Bird of Fire who dead heated with Miss Badoura.
A $40,000 purchase from Esker Lodge, the four-year-old is from You Beauty, by Comet Shine, a winner of two and third placed in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks. Now trained by Tony Vasil, Bird of Fire is a winner of three and nine-times placed from her 18 starts.