Miami Bound for the Melbourne Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday October 24

All roads lead to the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup for Reliable Man’s Miami Bound following a commanding performance in Saturday’s Group II McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).

Welcome back to the winners circle Miami Bound (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

After almost a year in the wilderness, last season’s Victoria Oaks heroine will join stablemates Vow And Declare, King Of Leogrance and Russian Camelot in the Cup.

With the unstoppable Jamie Kah in the saddle Miami Bound defeated Shared Ambition (IRE) (Born To Sea) by two and a half lengths with Oceanex (Ocean Park) a half-length away third.

Advertisement

Miami Bound has not been placed in six starts since her oaks triumph however trainer Danny O’Brien does not believe that is a true reflection of her form.

“We’ve been very happy with her all spring but she’s a much better horse when she gets out in distance a mile and a half at least and obviously she grows a leg on the soft,” O’Brien said.

“So, there was a few things that worked in our favour today but it’s a big thrill to see her win again.

“She gave us a great thrill last spring in the Oaks and it was still a big effort to come back here and beat the boys.

“She has been running on firm tracks over unsuitable distances but on the soft 7 today she just grew a leg and she was never going to get beaten.

“I would think she would definitely be an acceptor (in the Melbourne Cup) now.

“She’s won that impressively and when you’re that close it’s pretty hard to not run.

“It’s been difficult for those fillies that have won an Oaks to come back and win Melbourne Cup, but I would say we’d be there on the first Tuesday of November and give it a crack.”

Also, the winner of last season’s Group II Wakeful stakes, Miami Bound advances her record to five wins and two thirds from 14 starts with earnings of $1,228,000.

Purchased by O'Brien Thoroughbreds out of the Westbury Stud draft for $120,000 out of book 1 at Karaka 2018, the daughter of the French Derby and ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Reliable Man is a daughter of the 2007 VRC Oaks winner Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer) who has five of her six named foals to race with five winners, which include the $713,000 earner De Little Engine (Encosta De Lago) who won the Listed VRC Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 3200 metres.

A bargain $22,500 purchase at the 2006 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Arapaho Miss was purchased by Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud for $650,000 out of the Amarina Farm draft at the 2011 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and she was sent to New Zealand in 2015.

The 16yo daughter of Danehill Dancer has a yearling colt by Reliable Man (GB) and was covered by Tarzino last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup Gr2 2500m

Moonee Valley Track: Soft(7) Time: 2:39.66
1
Miami Bound
- 4m Reliable Man (GB) x Arapaho Miss (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
2
2.5
Shared Ambition
- 5g Born To Sea (IRE) x Almansa (IRE) (Dr. Devious (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
3
3.0
Oceanex
- 5m Ocean Park (NZ) x Danex (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Yendall 55
4
4.0
Etah James
- 8m Raise The Flag (GB) x Etah (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: W Egan 56
5
4.2
Gallic Chieftain
- 8h Tamayuz (GB) x Katerini (FR) (Cacique (IRE))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Damian Lane 57
6
4.7
Sound
- 8h Lando (GER) x Sky Dancing (IRE) (Exit To Nowhere (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: M Zahra 55.5
7
5.4
Carif
- 5h So You Think (NZ) x Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
8
9.9
Selino
- 5g Champs Elysees (GB) x Air Kiss (GB) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: W Pike 55
9
10.7
Polly Grey
- 6m Azamour (IRE) x Allanah (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Jye McNeil 53
10
14.4
Trap For Fools
- 7g Poet's Voice (GB) x Old Money (AUS) (Old Spice (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: John Allen 55
11
29.4
Levendi
- 6h Pierro (AUS) x Lipari (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Peter Gelagotis Rdr: J Maskiell 55
12
31.4
Hush Writer
- 6g Rulership (JPN) x Star Of Sapphire (USA) (Tapit (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Craig Williams 56.5
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Campaldino Wins G3 for Darby
Promising New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino passed his biggest test with flying colours at Eagle Farm on Saturday, stepping up to stakes company and adding the A$200,000 Gr.3 Living Turf Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) to his winning sequence.
Bright Future for El Roca 3YO
Owner-trainer-breeder Kylie Little believes she might have a promising stayer on her hands with Eagle Rock, who left maiden ranks with an emphatic performance in Saturday’s Matt Edwards-Lime Group Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.
First Local Win As New Endeavour (IRE) Records Stakes Success
While it may have taken the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained New Endeavour (IRE) a while to record his first Australian success, connections were rewarded for their patience as the 5yo dominated under Tim Clark to win the Group 3 BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.
Stakes Potential for New Hello Youmzain Winner
Late-season black type is on the radar for Platinum Diamond after an impressive upset victory in Saturday’s Full Circle Appearance Medicine 2YO (1200m) at Wanganui.
Ears Back Wins Listed Stakes at Wanganui
A two-race North Island campaign has ended on a career-defining high for Ears Back and her Rangiora trainer John Blackadder, who scored their first black-type win in Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui.
When in Doubt Back a Frankel!
The $200,000 Listed ATC Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m ) at Rosehill on Saturday attracted a competitive field of 14 stayers, the bulk of them imports and when you strike an open race like that it’s often wise to follow this piece of advice – when in doubt back a Frankel!
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 31
Here is the full list of 116 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Three Straight Stakes Wins For Cool Aza Beel’s Cool Archie
With no two-year-old currently performing better in Queensland, the Chirs and Corey Munce trained Cool Archie continued his outstanding form, taking out the $1m Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), his third consecutive black type victory.
Niance Overcomes Serious Injury to Claim Stakes Victory
Exciting New Zealand-bred mare Niance has bounced back from a serious injury and picked up right where she left off last spring, collecting her third consecutive black-type win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Hat-Trick for Trelawney Stud Blueblood Filly
Well-related Trelawney Stud filly Madiyya signed off her three-year-old season with a third straight win, this time over 1600m in the A$150,000 Rod Griffiths Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.