Racing: Australian Bloodstock imports on track for Melbourne spring
HAPPY: Australian Bloodstock directors and founders Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell. The Hunter syndication company claimed the 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist. Picture: Ryan Osland
Australian Bloodstock were thrilled with the condition of their Melbourne spring carnival imports as they settled into quarantine at the Werribee Racecourse and International Horse Centre.
Mustajeer, Chief Ironside, Danceteria, Torcedor and Raheen House were part of the first shipment of internationals, which arrived on Saturday, and will spearhead Australian Bloodstock's spring campaign.
The Hunter-based syndicators, who won the 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist, will target the race that stops a nation with Mustajeer, Raheen House and Torcedor.
Danceteria is on track for the Cox Plate, while Chief Ironside will resume in the Toorak Handicap.
Australian Bloodstock director Luke Murrell was happy with how the team had handled the trip from Newmarket in the UK.
"Talking to the vets, they reckon Mustajeer travelled the best out of all the internationals. He did it really easy," Murrell said.
"They were happy with Torcedor. He lost only two kilograms, and normally they reckon they can lose 15 or 20, so that was good.
"Raheen House is the same, he was really good.
"Danceteria and Chief Ironside had to have a drip when they came off the plane, just to put some fluids back in, which from what a can gather is very standard.
"I was really happy, there were no issues."
Mustajeer, now under the training of Newcastle's Kris Lees, was a last-start winner of Europe's richest flat handicap, the Ebor, and will resume in the October 19 Caulfield Cup. He was an $15 chance and in the Melbourne Cup market at $18 with TAB.
Murrell said Raheen House was also set to race only in the Caulfield and Melbourne cups but may now resume in the October 12 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield.
"We are a bit worried he's too far down the ballot so he might have to go to the Herbert Power the weekend before to try and win and get a penalty," Murrell said.
He said Torcedor would head straight to the Melbourne Cup. The eight-year-old was a leading chance in early markets for the 2018 edition before injury ruled him out. He was a $51 chance this year after a fifth and seventh in Germany at listed level on return.
Murrell said Mustajeer was his best cups hope but Cox Plate invitee Danceteria, which will resume in the Caulfield Stakes, was the company's leading spring carnival chance. He was $11 for the October 26 Cox Plate.
He said Raheen House was likely to stay in Australia with Lees. Danceteria and Chief Ironside could also join his stable.
Mugatoo and Rockabill will come to Australia on a second shipment and go to Lees with the Rosehill Cup as their target.