breednet.com.au

Did We See the Melbourne Cup Winner Here?

Tara Madgwick - Friday September 4

You could be forgiven for not thinking this was a stakes race in Melbourne with the Lloyd Williams colours finishing ahead of Yulong and Shadwell, but no it was Down Royal in the UK where talented stayer Master of Reality (IRE) booked his ticket back to Melbourne for another tilt at The Cup.

Second beaten a head in last year’s race to Vow and Declare and then demoted to fourth following a protest, the Joseph O’Brien trained Frankel gelding showed he was back to his best when winning the Listed Her Majesty’s Plate (1m6f) by three and a half lengths.
 


“Master of Reality got a lovely confidence booster there. He had a good run at the Curragh last time and I would think he'll go into quarantine now and head for Melbourne,” said Brendan Powell, assistant trainer.

Master of Reality was bought for 200,000 euros as a yearling at Arqana and started his career in France with Pascal Barry before being purchased as a Melbourne Cup prospect by the Lloyd Williams team and sent to Joseph O’Brien in 2018.

His form this year has been consistent in Group staying races with this win indicating his readiness for another try at the Melbourne Cup.

With four wins and five placings from 17 starts, Master of Reality is a three-quarter brother to stakes-winner Chamonix and is the best of seven winners from stakes-winning Darshaan mare L;Ancresse, a full sister to Group I winner Cerulean Sky.







 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Arrowfield Announce 2025 Fees
In the wake of his third Golden Slipper winner and his career-best yearling sale results, multiple Champion Sire Snitzel heads the 2025 Arrowfield stallion roster at an unchanged fee of $247,500, while Castelvecchio has earned a deserved fee increase.
Hong Kong Winners for Brave Smash and Hellbent
Brave Smash (Jpn) has a very nice horse in Hong Kong in the shape of four year-old gelding Divano, who scored his fifth win on Sunday when stepping up to Class 1 company for the first time.
Kiwi Sprint Star Crocetti Arrives in Perth
Kiwi Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has landed in Perth ahead of next week’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse.
First G1 Winner for Admire Mars
Arrowfield Stud’s handsome Japanese shuttle sire Admire Mars (Jpn) is on the board with his first Group I winner after classy three year-old filly Embroidery captured the Group I Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas( (160m) at Hanshin on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Monday April 14
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Who Do You Pick? Star Mares of Tomorrow
In chatting with our guest Jim Clarke this week on our Tara Talks Racing podcast we discussed a topic that will no doubt spark plenty of interest from our audience, if you could have one three year-old filly to take forward and race next season at four, who would it be?
Almanzor Mare Benefits from Maturity
Time was always going to benefit Mehzebeen and the Almanzor mare continues to emphasise that in her five-year-old season.
FBAA Professional Development Day- Food for Thought
The Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia’s third Continued Professional Development Day was again held at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday 8th April 2025 and was hosted by MC Vin Cox.
Yes Yes Yes It’s Been a Big Week for Kate Nivison!
This time last week passionate owner breeder Kate Nivison was basking in the success of having bred and sold a $1.7million Extreme Choice colt at Inglis Easter and today she was enjoying a different sort of success as a winning owner at Kembla.
Bloodstock Brains Behind the Big Stables
The modern world of big business horse training sees all the major players having trusted bloodstock agents as an integral part of their team and in the case of Bjorn Baker that person is Jim Clarke of Clarke Bloodstock.