Follow These Two Imports This Spring

Mark Smith - Sunday September 17

There's little doubt two of the most noteworthy performances on a champagne day of racing at Flemington and Randwick on Saturday came from the imported stayers Almandin (GER) and Libran (IRE).

Last year's Melbourne Cup hero Almandin (GER) was simply breathtaking in the Listed Japan Racing Association Trophy (2500m) at Flemington.

Under a double handful from Damien Oliver, Alamndin (GER) came from midfield with a rails-hugging ride to demoralise his opposition by upwards of two and three-quarter lengths without breaking a sweat.

The chasing pack was led by the winner's stablemates Crocodile Rock (Galileo) with Aloft (Galileo) a short-neck back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)

Advertisement

An 8yo son of Monsun, Alamndin (GER) was making just his second start since his historic win in the famous 2-miler.

He prepped for the JRA Plate with a solid third over 2040 metres at Moonee Valley on August 26.

Less than two months away from the Melbourne Cup, bookmakers reacted to Almandin's victory by firming him from $13 to outright  favourite at $9.


"That was extraordinary - it's a long time since I've ridden a stayer with my feet on the dashboard so far from home," Oliver said.

"He's certainly come back better than ever. He's carried a lot of weight today (61kg) and it was not a bad field.

"It's great to see how he's come back and let's hope it all goes well from here - he's heading the right way and certainly in the right stable.

"Let's keep our fingers crossed he can just get there in one piece on the big day."

Part-owner Nick Williams said they are keeping an open mind on Alamandin's path to the Melbourne Cup.

It's very simple the horse will tell us where he goes. "Whether that's the Bart Cummings, the Herbert Power, the Caulfield Cup, the Cox Plate, the Moonee Valley Cup – Dad and Malcolm (McLaren) will make that decision in due course.

"I wouldn't encourage any punters to back him in the Caulfield Cup, but I wouldn't want to dissuade them from it either.

"That decision will be made in due course."

Almandin (GER) won the 2014 Group II Grosser Preis der Badischen at the expense of another son of the great GHedrman stallion Monun, Protectionist who would win the Melbourne Cup later that year.

Remarkably Monsun has sired three of the last four winners of the race, beginning with Gai Waterhouse's magnificent Fiorente in 2013.

A brother to the Group II winner Atempo, out of the stakes-placed Tiger Hill mare Ametrin, Almandin is a three-quarter brother to Group 1 German Oaks heroine Amarette (Monsun).

Sparingly raced for an 8yo gelding Almandin (GER) advances his record to 6 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 14 starts with earnings of $4,249,058.

While Robert Hickmott trained the first three across the line in the JRA Cup, champion trainer Chris Waller went one better when his pupils finished 1-2-3-4 in the Group III Kingston Town Plate at Randwick.

It was one of Waller's least fancied starters Libran (IRE) who came out on top over Antonio Giuseppe, Life Less Ordinary and Who Shot Thebarman.

Carrying the colours of Highclere Racing, Libran looked to be back to the form that saw him finish second in the 2016 Sydney Cup when dashing clear in the closing stages under Glyn Schofield to win by one and a half lengths.    (photo Steve Hart)


Waller credits Libran's return to the winner's circle for the first time in over one and a half years to a dry track.

"He just went missing in that wet autumn. This time last year he was going good, in fact, he missed the Spring but wet tracks cost him, he's on good tracks now, he was ridden patiently in a funny run race," Waller said.

"They took off at the 500m as if there was no tomorrow. He was ridden patiently and came home with a barnstorming run.

"He ran a very good race first-up and his work since then has been good."

A 4-time winner in England, Libran advances his overall record to 9 wins, 2 second and 1 third from 26 starts for earnings of $964,623.

A son of Invincible Spirit's French Derby winner Lawman, Libran is out of the winning Sadler's Wells mare True Crystal a daughter of the Lancashire Oaks winner State Crystal (High Estate) from the family of Group 1 Fillies Mile winner Crystal Music.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 25
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
€1.9million Sale-Topping Colt Wins G3 Somerville Stakes
The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Breeding to Win - 2025 Manikato Stakes
Racing at The Valley on Grand Final Eve in Melbourne - the southern capital doing what it does best, bringing people together in celebration of sporting greatness!
Aquis Welcome First foals for Young Gun Officiating
A fast Group winning sprinter by Breeders Cup Classic winner Blame, Officiating (USA) was carefully selected by Aquis Stallions following a global headhunting mission to secure an outcross stallion for Queensland and his first foals are arriving this spring.
Invincible Filly Snares $100,000 Inglis Bonus
The least expensive filly by champion sire I Am Invincible sold at Inglis Easter in 2024, Wear the Crown always looked to have been well bought at $260,000 by Seib/Racing / Champion Thoroughbreds and she set about repaying her purchase price at Goulburn on Thursday.
Inglis Confirm Skybird for Everest Slot
Inglis is thrilled to confirm G1 winner Skybird (Exosphere) as our representative for the running of the $20m The Everest.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Richard Johnston has bred some very good horses under his Bylong Park banner including triple Group I winner Think It Over and an Anders three year-old he bred and races was an eye-catching debut winner at Hawkesbury on Thursday.