Finche Flashes His Melbourne Cup Credentials

Mark Smith - Saturday September 21

To paraphrase an Australian PM, how good is that 2017 Group II Prix Niel form working out?.

That day belonged to Frankel's 4-time Group 1 winner Cracksman who defeated Avilius (GB) and Finche (GB).

Advertisement

Not long after Avilius (GB) earned a third Group 1 win in the Optic White (George Main) Stakes (1600m), Finche (GB) broke his duck in Australia with a fighting win in the Group III Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.


Purchased privately in a deal brokered by Avenue Bloodstock, the French Group II and Group III winner made two starts in Australia last spring, finishing third in the Group III Geelong Cup before a fine fourth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.

Carrying the colours of his breeder, Prince Khalid Abdullah, who now shares ownership with some of Chris Waller's leading clients Neil Werrett, Peter Tighe and Frank and Christine Cook, Finche (GB) began his spring campaign with an eye-catching fifth in the Group II Chelmsford Stakes.

The Melbourne Cup is on the agenda again for the striking chestnut son of Frankel after he ran down the frontrunning Stampede (High Chaparral) by a long-neck with the winners stablemate Carzoff (FR) (Zoffany) a length back in third. (images Steve Hart).

Winning trainer Chris Waller said it was a proud moment for him to win a race for one of the world's most successful owner/breeders.

He is a very good horse and it's a privilege to train for Price Khalid Abdullah and the team that have bought into him from Australia that are great supporters of mine. To see those colours winning here at Royal Randwick is pretty special and I still get excited by little things like that.

"Horses that have raced in those colours include Frankel Enable and Arrogate so to have them here at Randwick is a big coup.

"We will go home and map out a suitable plan (for the Melbourne Cup), he is a very talented horse and we look forward to getting him there.

The Juddmonte bred is a half-brother to five winners including the 4-time US Grade 1 winner and multiple European Group 1-placed Proviso (Dansili) and Byword (Peintre Celebre) the Champion Older Male Miler in France in 2010 whose 7 wins included the Group 1 Royal Ascot Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Stakes-Win for Emirates Park Blue Blood Frankel
By champion sire Frankel from Golden Slipper winner Mossfun, Emirates Park homebred Dajraan is bred in the purple as they say and posted his first Black Type win at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dashing victory in the GRoup III ATC Festival Stakes (1500m).
Alsephina $1.1million and Amazonian Lass $1million
They followed each other through the sale ring at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday with Alsephina selling for $1.1million to Katsumi Yoshida followed by Amazonian Lass for $1million to Nocab Racing Pty Ltd/Kestrel Thoroughbreds.
14 Mares Sell for $1million or More - $5.25m Zougotcha the Star
Triple Group One winner Zougotcha became the most expensive horse sold at auction in the Southern Hemisphere this year when she realised $5.25 million at today's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
First Australian Winner For Ghaiyyath
While four-time Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) isn’t shuttling to Australia this season after four successive years where he covered 377 mares, supporters of the stallion will be pleased to see that he's recorded his first Australian winner on Tuesday - and it was an impressive one.
James Harron Buys Lady Laguna for $2.5million
Astute bloodstock agent James Harron is no stranger to success at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale having purchased elite $6million earning Group I sprinter Sunshine in Paris at the Gold Coast for $3.9million in 2023.
Best On Breeding
Five Australian-breds will line up in Saturday’s $5million Group 1 MRC Caulfield Cup (2400m), which is just two more than Frankel has supplied from his first two crops.
Widden Stud Sell Climbing Star for $2.1million
Group I winning Zoustar mare Climbing Star started life at Widden Stud as did $5.25million mare Zougotcha and now they will find themselves back together in the paddock at Coolmore after Tom Magnier purchased both of them at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday.
Widden Purchase MM 2YO Classic Winner for $1.35million
Widden Stud were active at the top end as a vendor at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday and also as a buyer securing Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Skirt the Law for $1.35million.
Blue Gum Farm Announce 2025 Fees
Leading Victorian stud, Blue Gum Farm, is pleased to announce its 2025 stallion roster and service fees, headlined by exciting young sire Sejardan, who will stand at an unchanged fee of $13,750.
Frankel's Miss Fabulass Returns to Form
The royally-bred Frankel mare Miss Fabulass came with a barnstorming finish to earn her second stakes win in Saturday’s Listed The Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) at Doomben.