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)

Advertisement

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).

Advertisment
More Reading...
French Derby Contender for Godolphin
The Godolphin winning run continued in France overnight with a French Derby contender emerging in the shape of progressive Lope de Vega colt Cualificar, who is out of Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.
Million Dollar Goal for I Am Invincible Filly
Tony and Calvin McEvoy landed a lucrative victory in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May last year with Arabian Summer and are hopeful they have another filly that can do the job this year in Sisstainable.
Rising Stars - Metro 2YO Double for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) unleashed not one but two exciting juveniles at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with the opening race going to the colt Regulated Affair and shortly after it was the turn of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly Agarwood.
So You Think Filly Shows Oaks Potential
The Bjorn Baker stable has been on fire this year and it’s full steam ahead to Queensland for talented So You Think filly Dame Commander, who beat older rivals at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
First Win for Sword of State Half-Sister
Well-related filly Paravane broke through for her maiden win in pleasing fashion at Ellerslie on Wednesday when taking out the Join TAB Racing Club 1200 in the hands of senior hoop Vinnie Colgan.
Japanese Bred Filly Wins At Eagle Farm
Could trainer Kris Lees have the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on his mind after his three-year-old, northern hemisphere bred filly Eclair Encore (Jpn) recorded a strong victory over 1800m at Eagle Farm.
Castelvecchio Filly Records Promising Victory
Having placed in her first two starts, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman trained Street Lark (Castelvecchio) appeared to appreciate the step up to the 1500m of Wednesday’s Sportsbet Get On Extra Plate at Caulfield to break her maiden with a promising performance..
Queensland Calling for Exciting Wootton Bassett Colt
Champion trainer Chris Waller is renowned for producing talented back season juveniles that blossom into stakes performers and we saw one at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when heavily backed Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Regulated Affair opened his account.
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday May 7
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.