Racing Victoria (RV) has this morning confirmed that legendary Irish trainers Dermot Weld and Aidan O’Brien have placed horses in quarantine in Ireland overnight in preparation for this year’s Spring Racing Carnival.
Emirates Melbourne Cup contender Pale Mimosa commenced two weeks pre-export quarantine at Weld’s training base, whilst leading Sportingbet Cox Plate fancy Adelaide has done likewise at O’Brien’s.
The horses are booked to arrive in Melbourne on Saturday, 11 October along with six others who are scheduled to commence their pre-export quarantine in Newmarket (UK) tonight.
Headlining that contingent is Ireland’s star sprinter, the Ed Lynam-trained Slade Power. He is set to be joined by Cup entrants Willing Foe and Cavalryman (Saeed bin Suroor), Royal Diamond (Johnny Murtagh), Gatewood (John Gosden) and Au Revoir (Andre Fabre).
Upon arrival the horses are required to complete a further two weeks post arrival quarantine at the TAB International Horse Centre at Werribee Racecourse before being free to compete.
“The placement of horses into quarantine marks an important step in attracting horses to Melbourne for the Spring Racing Carnival and thus we’re pleased with the news from Ireland overnight,” RV International Recruitment Officer, Leigh Jordon, said.
“Dermot Weld and Aidan O’Brien are legendary trainers and their presence would be a great boost for this year’s Spring Racing Carnival. We will continue to liaise with them over the next fortnight in the hope and expectation that their horses travel to Melbourne.
“As a dual Melbourne Cup winner, Dermot knows what it takes to win Australia’s premier race and in Pale Mimosa he has an exciting stayer who is capable of delivering him more success in Melbourne.
“We’re particularly pleased to welcome Aidan O’Brien back after a six-year absence and are delighted that he has seen fit to target the Sportingbet Cox Plate with Adelaide who will be amongst the hardest to beat.”
Weld blazed a trail for international participation in the Spring Racing Carnival when he prepared Vintage Crop to win the 1993 Melbourne Cup. He is the only international trainer to win the Cup on multiple occasions having triumphed again in 2002 with Media Puzzle.
Pale Mimosa, a winner at five of her 11 starts including the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3300m) at York (UK) two starts back, will be Weld’s 13th Cup starter and first since 2012.
O’Brien, who has enjoyed success in many of the world’s biggest races, trained Mahler to finish third in the 2007 Melbourne Cup. He has not prepared a Spring Racing Carnival starter since 2008 when his trio of Melbourne Cup contenders all finished unplaced.
Adelaide, a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old, is yet to miss a place in seven starts and was victorious in the Group 1 Secretariat Stakes (2000m) at Arlington Park (USA) two starts back.
The Irish-bred colt will be looking to create history as the first international to win the Cox Plate with Grandera (third, 2002) the only international runner to have placed.
There are currently four Japanese horses, including leading Crown Golden Ale Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup contenders Admire Rakti and Bande, in quarantine at Werribee.
They will shortly be joined by 19 European horses – led by dual Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux and Caulfield Cup runner-up Dandino – who fly into Melbourne this Saturday afternoon, 27 September.
