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).
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.
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.
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).
