With his arrival imminent from Japan, Matt Becker's Group 1 Bloodstock, on behalf of owners Yulong Investments and Ozzie Kheir, are excited to announce that they have secured the Group 1 performed stayer, Tosen Basil to compete in the 2018 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
"Tosen Basil has all the right
credentials to be a major player this spring. He is a Group 1 placegetter on
the international stage; he has a great winning strike rate and is proven over
the distance. Blessed with a powerful turn of foot, he is a serious horse,"
Becker said.
Showing eye-catching talent beyond a mile, the six-year-old entire and $1.76 million earner will prepared by champion trainer Darren Weir and is already fully qualified by passing the ballot criteria for both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup.
"His brilliant third in the 2400m Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase where he placed behind seven-time Group 1 winner Highland Reel and Breeders Cup winner Talismanic really put him on our radar, and recent Group 1 form lines tie in around another Hong Kong-based star, Werther," Becker said.
Tosen Basil was runner-up in the Group 2 Kyoto Daishoten over 2400m, and placed in the Group 2 Daishoten Stakes over 3000 metres, where he closed strongly to finish on the heels of multiple Group 1 winnerSatono Diamondand Group 1 Japan Cup winnerCheval Grand.
However, it was his recent performances this preparation that really impressed Becker, indicating that the smart galloper is improving with maturity and distance.
"He was previously trained by leading trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, and his two runs this preparation have been fantastic. His sixth place in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over 3200m in April flagged to us that he was a serious Melbourne Cup horse for this spring, as the form around the race that day was incredible."
"The winner was multiple Group 1 star Rainbow Line, runner-up Cheval Grand won the Japan Cup last year, and the third horse, Clincher is a Group 2 victor and multiple Group 1 placed. The fourth horse subsequently went on to a Group 1 win, and fifth was Chestnut Coat, another horse coming out for the Melbourne spring."
Partnering with Melbourne based businessman Ozzie Kheir as his bloodstock advisor, Group 1 Bloodstock's Matt Becker was instrumental in brokering the ownership of Tosen Basil with Yulong.
Ozzie Kheir is a passionate racing devotee, enjoying successful ownership with his brother Victor, and good friends and business associates Phil Mehrten and John O'Neil.
Star gallopers Ozzie has been involved in include Group 1 winner Master Of Design, Melbourne Cup third placegetter Lucas Cranach and triple Group 1-winner Moment Of Change. He tasted victory in the 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist, and he currently part-owns leading Melbourne Cup contender, Marmelo.
"Through the partnership with Yulong, we are excited to secure Tosen Basil to compete in this year's cups. I knew Mr Zhang aimed to be a competitive part of our majors, and I believe Tosen Basil is the ideal horse. Mr Zhang will act as the managing owner, and he will race in the Yulong colours," Becker said.
"I wish Mr Zhang all the very best. I hope to see him on the winner dais, as he has invested so much into racing globally and he has now shown outstanding commitment to breeding and racing in Victoria."
Japanese horses have tasted great success on Australian soil with Delta Blues and runner-up Pop Rock in the Melbourne Cup, and Caulfield Cup winner and Melbourne Cup favourite Admire Ratki, while Tosen Basil's trainer Darren Weir prepared the Group 1 winner of the Toorak and the Emirates, Tosen Stardom and Group 1 Futurity winner and Everest placegetter Brave Smash.
"Along with Weir as the perfect choice to train Tosen Basil, the key for us is that we have an extremely highly rated horse that will come in light in the weights. That is a real advantage in our Group 1 handicap races, given that he will be competitively weighted at around 53 - 55kg, " Becker said.
Tosen Basilis byproven Group 1 producing sire Harbinger (GB) out of the beautifully bred Fuji Kiseki mare Careless Whisper. His dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winnerTosen Jordan, Group 2 winnerTosen Homareboshi, and multiple Group placedDark Message. She is also a half-sister toLa Scintillante, the dam of dual Australian Group 1 winner Tosen Stardom, another horse Ozzie was fortunate to be involved with.
An outstanding type as a yearling, Tosen Basil was a $1.73 million purchase out of the prestigious 2012 Japan Select Sale from the Northern Farm draft for major owner Mr Takaya Shimakawa.
