Moroney relishing opportunity to train record breaker English King
$1.7 million dollar purchase tops Horses In Training Sale
Flemington trainer Mike Moroney is understandably enthusiastic about the prospect of training Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) fifth English King (Camelot) – the highest priced colt ever sold at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale and “by quite a way”, according to Moroney, the most expensive horse his team has ever purchased.
The Wednesday sale, at Newmarket for 925,000 guineas (approx. AUD$1.792 million), comes on the eve of a crucial Victoria Derby Day for the stable which hopes to qualify Sound (Lando) for the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) – via the Lexus Hotham Handicap (Gr 3, 2500m) – and has Buffalo River (Noble Mission), purchased from the same Tatts sale in 2018, among the leading hopes in the Cantala Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).
Moroney said that English King will carry the purple and white colours of long time stable client Gerard Peterson who, with Rod Duke, are the majority owners of Sound. Peterson, also a part-owner of Moroney’s 2000 Melbourne Cup winner Brew (Sir Tristram), and Duke were key players in the acquisition of English King.
“I was talking to Gerard (Peterson) before this week’s sale and he told me that he and Rod (Duke) could get half done. Rupert Legh and other good clients expressed their interest and so the majority of the horse was sold in advance. Mind you, we had a budget and our last bid was it,” Moroney said.
English King, the Lingfield Derby Trial (Listed 1m 3.5f) winner in record time before finishing less than a length behind runner-up Khalifa Sat (Free Eagle) at Epsom, was a wildcard entry into the sale, which galvanised the interest of the buying team – Armando Duarte, Ballymore Stables and Paul Moroney Bloodstock.
“A lot of people had tried to buy this horse privately without success but when he was added to this sale we really did our homework and we’re excited to get him. He’s lightly–raced and there’s improvement to come we believe.
“We’ve paid a record price in a year where the average was down but not many horses like him go through this sale. And I think he should have run second in the Derby,” said Moroney, who just happened to be watching replays of the race when contacted by ANZ Bloodstock News.
“English King’s track-record performance winning the Lingfield Derby Trial beating St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco was one of the most breathtakingly dominant performances anywhere this year,” Moroney’s brother Paul told the Racing Post.
“He’s clearly a highly talented colt with loads of quality and we’re thrilled to have secured him. Through their joint sire Camelot and with similar race records at the same stage, English King maps the same as last weekend’s Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet,” he said.
English King is the 12th foal from Platonic (Zafonic), the foundation mare for famed Normandy nursery Ecurie des Monceaux. She was bought for 100,000 guineas at Tattersalls in 2004.
Her seven winners include Prix de Lutece (Gr 3, 3000m) victor Pacifique (Montjeu), dam of record-setting €2.6 million Arqana yearling Parabellum (Dubawi) and the Listed winner Prudenzia (Dansili), whose brood includes Magic Wand (Galileo), last year’s Mackinnon Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner who was retired yesterday, and her Classic-winning three-parts sister Chicquita (Montjeu), who was the most expensive thoroughbred sold in Ireland when bought by Peter and Ross Doyle on behalf of Coolmore for €6m in 2013.
English King is expected to arrive in Australia in December and will be accompanied by two other stable purchases – Emissary (Kingman), a half-brother to 2010 Derby and Arc (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Workforce (King’s Best), for 350,000 guineas (approx. AUD$677,400) and Keats (Galileo) for 200,000 guineas (approx. AUD$387,000).
“The other two horses also look very promising types. Emissary, who’ll race in Rupert Legh’s colours, failed in the Derby but his form is otherwise very good and Keats just looks a nice horse. He’s had a bit more racing than the other two but he could be the ideal “miler” to 2000 metres horse here,” he said.
Keats is a last start Irish Listed winner whose dam Airwave (Air Express) was a Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) winner at two and she was runner-up to Australia’s Choisir (Danehill Dancer) in the 2003 Golden Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f). She’s produced four winners with a Racing Post Rating above 100.
The stable’s record with northern hemisphere acquisitions augurs well for the latest trio. Most have been private purchases including this year’s Mornington Cup (Listed, 2400m) winner Aktau (Teofilo), Sound and past high–class performers Glass Harmonium (Verglas) and Vengeur Masque (Monsun).
“We’ve done pretty well with the tried purchases. Horses like Glass Harmonium and Vengeur Masque won around $1.3, $1.4 million for us. We’re well practised now, we know what to expect and we’ve also had success with yearlings which Paul (Moroney) has bought including Mirimar and Hang Man.
“It’s always a case of assessing them on arrival. Some will come through quickly while others will take time to acclimatise,” Moroney said.
And this weekend, a $900,000 Kennedy Canala Stakes prize potentially awaits Buffalo River who was originally trained by John Gosden but joined the Moroney team after being knocked down to brother Paul for 180,000 guineas in 2018.
“I think he’s improved a lot from his run in the Toorak although I can’t figure out the weights as he meets the winner one kilogram worse for being beaten two lengths,” Moroney said in reference to his second placing behind Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) in the Caulfield Group 1.
Buffalo River’s five wins in Australia have been on soft ground but the prospect of a good track tomorrow does not perturb the trainer. “Most of his runs here have been on the soft but it was good ground in the Toorak and I think he’s actually suited at a mile (1600m) on top of the ground given his really good cruising speed.
“He can keep running those good sectionals on good ground. That’s not a worry. He’s drawn out a bit but again I’d rather he was drawn in the middle than right in because he can be a touch slow, sometimes, to muster speed,” Moroney said.
Brew, in 2000, had to win the then Saab Quality (Lexus Hotham) to ensure his place in the Melbourne Cup field and this year there’s a strong sense of de javu with the same quest awaiting Sound.
“It’s Brew all over again. We’ve got to run. It’s a bit of a shame as he had no luck at all in last week’s Moonee Valley Cup but that’s how it is,” Moroney said of his stayer who is 32nd in order of entry for Tuesday’s great race.
In contrast, Moroney will roll the dice with stablemate Chapada (Bullet Train) who is two places further down the order. “It just wouldn’t suit his preparation to run so we’ll rely on attrition. If he makes the field he’ll definitely run but, if not, he’ll run in the Queen Elizabeth on the last day…and he’s got years ahead of him,” Moroney said.
Moroney will also run Tour Of Duty (Hinchinbrook) and Wisaka (Tavistock) in tomorrow’s Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) – bidding for a third win in the race after victories with Second Coming (Oak Ridge) and Monaco Consul (High Chaparral).