Camelot 3YO Aiming for Queensland Derby

Media Release - Wednesday May 1

Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are likely to have a small, but select team of two target the Queensland carnival, with progressive three-year-olds Lord Arthur and Bobby Dee on a path towards the Group I Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.

Lord Arthur - image Trish DunnellThe pair were last seen in the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie a fortnight ago, where Lord Arthur stormed home from the rear of the field to land the spoils, while Bobby Dee finished a game third.

A son of Camelot, Lord Arthur is the fifth stakes winner out of the Zabeel mare Imposingly and is a half-brother to triple Group One winner Bonneval, in addition to Group winners Imposing Lass, Lady Cumquat and Full of Spirit.

Raced by his breeders Peter Newsom, Mac Whitehouse, and Tony Wales after the horse was passed in for $110,000 as a yearling, Lord Arthur looks a stayer of immense potential as he furnishes into his leggy frame.

"He was a horse that was always going to take a bit of time," Baker said.

"After his first start he looked promising but then he was disappointing a wee bit. It was just immaturity.

"There are not too many similarities with Bonneval. He is a taller individual and he is strengthening up all the time, but he looks to have inherited some of the family ability.

"She (Imposingly) has been a great broodmare, I think she has left five Group winners and there aren't many that can do that."

Baker said Lord Arthur will run in the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) on May 25 at Eagle Farm, the traditional lead-up to the Queensland Derby.

"It was a good win in the Championship Stakes and I think he really appreciated the good tempo of the race. He came from a long way back," he said.

Advertisement

"He will probably run in the Grand Prix. It is good to have these races back at Eagle Farm, they all get a chance there on what is a roomy track."

Travelling companion Bobby Dee is another three-year-old that Baker has a good opinion of and he will have one more hit-out before joining Lord Arthur on the flight to Queensland on May 12.

The son of Zed was fourth in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) before finishing a solid sixth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the beginning of March.

"He will be on the same path but he his running at Te Rapa this weekend," Baker said.

Bobby Dee will take on the older horses when contesting Saturday's Rating 82 BCD Group 2200m with Craig Grylls to ride from barrier 12.

"The other day (in the Championship Stakes) it was his first run for nearly two months," Baker said.

"I thought it was a good run the other day. He can run handy to the speed which can be an advantage.

"We did think about South Australia but it is a long way when you have to go on the road from Melbourne, so I think Queensland will suit these later maturing types." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Derby Dreamer for Camelot
Memories of Jezabeel's Group I Auckland Cup (3200m) triumph will be rekindled when her colours are in action at Ellerslie on Tuesday, exactly 21 years after the first leg of her notable staying double.
Camelot's Hunting Horn Stakes His Claim for Melbourne Cup
Trainer Aidan O’Brien was beaten to the punch by his son Joseph in claiming a Melbourne Cup but the master of Ballydoyle has a live cup prospect this year in Hunting Horn (IRE) who relegated Joseph’s horse Downdraft (IRE) to third place in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
Yulong Purchase Another Oaks winner for $1.45million
Yulong are in the process of collecting paddocks full of Classic winners at their Victorian headquarters and added another at the Magic Millions National Sale on Wednesday when securing Lonhro’s VRC Oaks winner Aristia for $1.45million.
Dirty Work 2YO Dazzling Debut Winner
Widden Stud’s young Written Tycoon son Dirty Work had an impressive debut winner on Wednesday for the Phillip Stokes stable.
Yulong Top Buyers List as MM National Mares Concludes
The beautifully related Group performer Call Di has topped the second and final day of the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast selling for $2.1million.
$2.1million Frankel Mare - Samantha Miss Legacy Ignites MM National
Back in 2009, the most expensive mare sold in Australia was Champion 3YO Filly Samantha Miss, who was bought by John Singleton for $3.85million and today at the Magic Millions National Sale two of her daughters sold for $2.1million and $1.25million, both going to Yulong.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday May 28
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Miss Enfield in Foal to Wootton Bassett Sells for $1.25million
Wootton Bassett (GB) has had a hefty fee increase for his return to Coolmore Australia this spring in the wake of overwhelming worldwide success on the track, so blueblood Miss Enfield was an attractive package in foal to him in her first season at stud.
Odinson tops May (Late) Sale at $160,000
The Listed Inglis Nursery winner Odinson topped today’s May (Late) Online Sale, selling to Pure Bloodstock for $160,000.
20th SW for Camelot
Montjeu’s Epsom Derby winning son Camelot sired his 20th stakes-winner in Ireland overnight with a win in the Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes for blue-blooded filly Goddess, whose pedigree makes for interesting reading.