Lightly raced stallion Russian Camelot (IRE) has been handled patiently by his trainer Danny O’Brien and that patience looks like being rewarded in spades this spring with the son of Camelot cruising to an ultra-impressive win in the Group I MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Ridden a positive race by Damien Oliver, Russian Camelot always looked like the best horse in the race and won as he pleased.
A brilliant winner of the Group I South Australian Derby last season at his fifth start, Russian Camelot has no horse to fear as he moves through this spring.
"I
t's really exciting to see him produce performances like this so early in his career” said Danny O’Brien.
"There's been a lot of hype around him, people are expecting things like this, so it's really exciting to see him go out there and get it done.
"I think he's the best horse I've had anything to do with. He's a magnificent colt and we're thrilled that he's got this done today and hopefully it's not the end of the spring for him."
Russian Camelot will look to follow the path of the great champion So You Think as he goes next to the Group I MRC Caulfield Stakes before tackling the Cox Plate and then the Melbourne Cup.
So You Think won the Underwood Stakes and then all of those races before finishing a gallant third in the Melbourne Cup.
Consigned by Camas Park Stud, Ireland to the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, Russian Camelot was purchased by agent Jeremy Brummitt on behalf of some of Danny O’Brien’s clients for 120,000 guineas.
With four wins and two seconds from seven starts and prizemoney topping $900,000, Russian Camelot is the best of two winners from Lady Babooshka, an unraced three-quarter sister by Cape Cross to Group II winner Alkaadhem.
He comes from a family packed with Group I winners tracing to blue hen Reprocolor. Read about her here in Mark Smith’s Best on Breeding story prior to Russian Camelot winning the SA Derby.
He has an interesting double cross of Sadler’s Wells as do 14 other group I winenrs worldwide including the mighty mare Enable.
Russian Camelot is one of 33 stakes-winners for Montjeu's four-time Group I winning son Camelot, who shuttled to Coolmore Stud for one season.
