A look at the history of this year’s Melbourne Cup hero
When Michel Monfort sent Sarvana to former Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m) winner Outstrip – a son of Exceed And Excel – it wouldn't have been with the intention of breeding a Melbourne Cup winner.
But that was the result with Gold Trip, the horse who was the result of that cover, winning the $8 million Group 1 event at Flemington on Tuesday.
Sarvana, Dubai Destination, a daughter of , was not given much chance to prove herself on the racetrack, her only start producing an 18.85-length ninth of 14 in a 2400m race in France.
She did boast Black Type siblings, however, being a half-sister to Sarkiyla, a daughter of Oasis Dream who won the G3 Prix De Lieurey (1600m) at Deauville.
Monfort thought that might have appeal to buyers and offered Gold Trip at the Arqana August Sale, where he sold for 60,000 euros.
That's significantly cheaper than the $2 million-plus Australian Bloodstock reportedly paid for Gold Trip, who is a half-brother to Stakes-performed Got Wind (Olympic Glory), after his second placing in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (2400m) in July last year.
That followed a second in the G1 Prix Ganay (2100m), while three starts before that he had finished fourth, beaten less than 2.5-lengths in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) won by Sottsass.
His only win prior to coming to Australia came in the G2 Prix Greffulhe (2200m) at Lyon in his fourth start in a race.
The Melbourne Cup success, which was engineered by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, was a career highlight for Outstrip, who started his stallion career at Darley's Dulham Hall in England but last year moved to Brazil.
The Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf success was one of three wins a two-year-old for Outstrip, who also placed behind Kingman in a G1 St James's Palace Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot as a three-year-old.
Gold Trip aside, his best product is Outgate, a gelding from the Invincible Spirit mare Penny Drops, who is a four-time winner in England.
