Half-brothers chase feature staying success half a world apart
Saturday shapes as a big day for those associated with the two sons of British mare Gretchen.
The Australian focus will be on her first foal, Lionel, a Ciaron Maher-trained import who impressed with a third placing at Mornington at his Australian debut.
The son of Lope De Vega is being given a shot to secure his spot in the Melbourne Cup via the $500,000 The Andrew Ramsden at Flemington.
Around 15 hours before that 2800-metre Listed event is run, Lionel's younger half-brother Gregory takes on last year's beaten Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban, last-start Dubai Gold Cup winner Tower Of London and winning machine Hamish in the Yorkshire Cup at York.
That 2787m Group 2 will be Gregory's first start since finishing fifth in the Group 1 English St Leger (2920m) in September last year.
The son of Golden Horn, who is trained by John and Thady Gosden, finished third in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes (2414m) at his previous start, having won his only three earlier starts, culminating with the Queen's Vase (2816m) at Royal Ascot.
Fourth in that Group 2 race, 6-1/2 lengths behind Gregory, was Circle Of Fire, who is now a stablemate of Lionel and won this year's Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
Gregory has had just one fewer start than Lionel, despite being 12 months younger.
Lionel's only win in five starts in the United Kingdom came in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes (2253m) at Goodwood, while he also placed in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes (2847m) at Ascot.
His one crack at Group 1 level came in last year's Irish Derby (2414m), in which he finished last behind Westover.
Lionel and Gregory are the only two to race from Gretchen, a daughter of Galileo who won three of her five starts, including the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes (2920m) at her final start.
Gretchen is out of the Danehill mare Delores, who is also the dam of Duncan, a son of Dalakhani who was joint winner of the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) and also won the 2011 edition of the race Lionel is contesting this weekend.
