Interpretation Breaks a Two-Year Drought and Off to the Melbourne Cup

Mark Smith - Wednesday November 1

The Galileo (IRE) gelding Interpretation (IRL) is off to the Melbourne Cup after opening his Australian account in Wednesday’s $500,000 Group III Apiam Animal Health Bendigo Cup (2400m).

Interpretation down the outside (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Michael Dee for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Interpretation (IRL) did best in a driving finish to defeat the Twilight Son (GB) entire Brayden Star (GB) by a short-half-head with the Dansili gelding Taramansour (IRE) a half-length back in third.

Connections will be hoping for better luck in the Melbourne Cup this year after he was eased out of the race twelve months ago.

Advertisement

At his 2-year-old debut in Ireland in November 2020 for Aidan O’Brien, Interpretation (IRL) finished fourth to fellow Melbourne Cup aspirant Cleveland over 9f at the Curragh.

At three, the son of Galileo reeled off three consecutive wins, culminating in the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown. It encouraged connections to take a chance in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster, where he was far from disgraced when fourth to Hurricane Lane.

He was sold to a syndicate of Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stalwarts after finishing a close-up fourth in the Group II Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp.

He has placed in three of nine starts in Australia before his Bendigo Cup breakthrough, the best being a third in the Group III Bart Cummings Stakes in October last year.

Ciaron Maher was thrilled for Interpretation’s patient owners as he broke through for his first win in 115 weeks.

The wait is over (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Bred by White Birch Farm, Interpretation (IRL) descends from a revered Aga Khan family.

A half-bother to stakes-placed Bahamian Club (Kingman), he is the best of three winners from a s many to race for the Dansili mare Daldiyna (FR), a half-sister to Dolniya (Azamour), whose five wins included the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

Dolniya is the dam of the French Group III winner Dilawar (Dubawi).

Daldiyna’s dam, Daltama, is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winners Dalakhani (IRE) and Daylami (IRE).

Advertisment

Race Result - Apiam Animal Health Bendigo Cup Gr3 2400m

Bendigo Track: Good(4) Time: 2:28.52
1
Interpretation
- 6g Galileo (IRE) x Daldiyna (FR) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 54.5
2
0.1
Brayden Star
- 5h Twilight Son (GB) x Desert Liaison (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: B Mc Dougall 54
3
0.6
Taramansour
- 7g Dansili (GB) x Tanoura (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 54
4
0.7
Luncies
- 7g Iffraaj (GB) x Under The Rainbow (GB) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: B Shinn 59
5
2.5
Suizuro
- 4g Real Impact (JPN) x Sussuro (AUS) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: C Newitt 54.5
6
2.9
Kukeracha
- 6g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Portrait Of A Lady (USA) (Ap Indy (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
7
3
Pesto
- 8g New Approach (IRE) x Pickle (GB) (Piccolo (GB))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
8
3.4
Port Philip
- 6g Camelot (GB) x Aymara (GB) (Darshaan (GB))
Tnr: Julius Sandhu Rdr: Celine Gaudray 54
9
3.5
Wertheimer
- 6g Tavistock (NZ) x Wild About Me (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M J Enright Rdr: Alana Kelly 54
10
3.6
Hezashocka
- 6g Shocking (AUS) x Shezakiwi (NZ) (Brilliance (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Oliver 58
11
7.1
Ho Ho Khan
- 9h Makfi (GB) x China Choice (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Mitchell Freedman Rdr: Tahlia Hope 56
12
7.2
Win O'clock
- 7g Australia (GB) x Gee Kel (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: M J Williams Rdr: D Yendall 54
13
9.7
Rick's Cafe
- 8m Americain (USA) x Sharpay Magic (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Rhiannon Schiffer Rdr: Carleen Hefel 54
14
11.2
Hasta La War
- 8g Declaration Of War (USA) x Mofajah (GB) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: Ms S Murphy Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54.5
More Reading...
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Debut Win for Expensive Capitalist 2YO
An $800,000 Magic Millions purchase from Attunga Stud for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, Capitalist colt Caesar was the highest priced yearling by his sire sold in 2024 and made a winning debut at Gosford on Thursday.
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
One to Watch – Gosford
Capitalist had a double of debut winning two year-olds at Gosford on Thursday both prepared by Peter Snowden and while the expensive colt Caesar got the job done, it was the filly that really had people talking.