Legendary Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien is set to make his strongest Melbourne Cup bid in years after putting a trio of highly rated stayers in Bondi Beach, Order Of St George and Kingfisher into quarantine at his showpiece Ballydoyle stables in readiness for a tilt at Australia's greatest race.
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It was confirmed earlier this week that Lloyd Williams, the four time Melbourne Cup-winning owner and one of Australia's biggest racehorse investors, had bought into the Coolmore threesome in a bid to strengthen his already powerful armoury for the Cup.
Order Of St George is shortest priced of the three for the 3200 metre Cup — hardly surprising after his runaway win in the Irish St Leger (2800 metres) at the Curragh last time out, when he scored by 11 lengths.
But the other pair are no slouches. Bondi Beach won the English St Leger (2900 metres) on protest last start while Kingfisher was a close and unlucky second in the 4000 metre Ascot Gold Cup at the Royal meeting last June behind another potential Cup rival, the English trained Trip to Paris. The latter is a stable companion of evergreen visitor Red Cadeaux.
O'Brien was quoted in the Racing Post as saying: "The three possible Melbourne horses have gone into quarantine. Highland Reel and Ol' Man River are also in quarantine and may also travel."
The latter pair are amongst the second acceptors for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.in October, Australasia's weight for age championship race.
