No more appropriate mating could have transpired in the lead up to Saturday's $3 million Caulfield Cup, one of Australasia’s iconic staying events.

Last year’s winner and the dual New Zealand Horse of the Year Mongolian Khan has served the former champion race mare Ethereal, who triumphed in the 2001 edition of the 2400 metre feature.

Mongolian Khan, who was also the champion three-year-old of his year, was the chosen consort for Sir Peter Vela’s Ethereal, who went on to complete an historic double for trainer Sheila Laxon by also claiming the Melbourne Cup in 2001.

A son of Holy Roman Emperor, Mongolian Khan is enjoying strong support from both New Zealand and Australian breeders in his first season at Windsor Park Stud following the Cambridge nursery’s purchase of a 50 per cent holding in the stallion from the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group.

“Across the board, support for Mongolian Khan hasn’t surprised us given the quality of his race track performances and the fact that he is a super looking stallion,” said the farm’s general manager Steve Till.

“He is thriving in his new role and proving to be as successful in the serving ring as he was on the race track.

“He already has a number of the 150 mares visiting him tested in foal and he will serve many highly credentialed mares in his first season.”

The Duchess of Bedford’s recently retired stakes winning race mare Tavy is another to visit Mongolian Khan while College Girl, a sister to Saturday’s G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Yankee Rose, recently tested in foal to him.