A Prince Of Arran Earns Golden Ticket to Melbourne Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday November 3

Third in the Herbert Power Stakes behind ruling Cup favourite Yucatan, the Charlie Fellowes-trained A Prince Of Arran (GB) needed to win Saturday's $300,000 Group III Lexus Stakes to earn a spot in next Tuesday's Melbourne Cup and he did just that.

With Michael Walker giving the British import a positive ride, A Prince Of Arran (GB) held the challenge of Brimham Rocks (GB) by a half-length to hand that Chris Waller-trained daughter of Fastnet Rock her 8th placing from as many starts since arriving from England.

Jaameh (IRE) was one and three-quarter lengths back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)

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The 32yo Fellowes, who spent a year working with Lee Freedman, said the 6yo son of Shirocco had given him the thrill of a lifetime.


"Plans don't often come off like they did there but he has been in great form and he travelled over here so well. The girl that is leading him up, Natasha, has done the most unbelievable job with him all year, even in the beginning in Dubai," Fellows said.

"I just can't believe we are in the big one on Tuesday.

"That's the biggest win of my career, it's the first Group win of my career and to win on a massive day like today is huge.

"This was our derby. This was the race we needed to win and anything from now on is a bonus.

"We'll freshen him up, hopefully, he comes out of it good, and we'll give it our best shot on Tuesday."

A Prince Of Arran (GB) arrived in Australia of the back of placings in the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup in America and Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. But he was registering his first stakes win in the Lexus.

The late, great German stallion Monsun has sired the winners of three of the last five Melbourne Cups and A Prince Of Arran's sire Shirocco would rate as one of Monsun's best sons.

His seven wins included the 2005 Breeders' Cup Turf, the Coronation Stakes and the German Derby.

A Prince Of Arran becomes his 33rd stakes winner.

The dam of A Prince Of Arran, Storming Sioux, a daughter of Machiavellian's 4-time Group 1 winning son Storming Home, is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 Longchamp Prix d'Ispahan winner Best Of The Bests out of the Group III Fred Darling Stakes winner Sueboog (Darshaan).

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