breednet.com.au

Aidan O'Brien to run two in Caulfield Stakes

Darryl Sherer - Monday October 9

Aidan O'Brien is set to start two of his Group I-performers in Saturday's Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

Johannes Vermeer. Photo: China Horse Club

Johannes Vermeer and Taj Mahal will both be nominated for the Group I contest over 2000m under weight-for-age conditions and both will wear the colours of Lloyd Williams having raced in the Michael Tabor livery in Europe.

T.J. Comerford is one of O'Brien's travelling head lads and told Racing Victoria both horses had settled in well at the Werribee quarantine stable.

"They've settled in quite well, they've had two days on the grass now and everything is going to plan with them," Comerford said.

"The plan is for them both to run at Caulfield on Saturday and then we'll see where they go after that, maybe the following Saturday for Johannes Vermeer in the Caulfield Cup and then maybe Taj Mahal in the Cox Plate.

"Taj Mahal is a very laid back horse and he takes the work well, so it can be hard to know but on his form alone he'll be very good."

Johannes Vermeer won the Group I winner Criterium International at Saint-Cloud as a two-year-old but raced only twice in 2016 owing to injury.

This year he has raced five times, winning the Group III International Stakes over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh and runner-up last time out in the Group III Ballyroan Stakes over a mile and a half on August 10.

Taj Mahal's only win in 16 starts was in a nursery on the all-weather at Dundalk a year ago but the son of Galileo has finished runner-up three times this year, notably when beaten 2 1/4-lengths in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in August.

O'Brien took his Group I tally for the year to 23 - two behind Bobby Frankel's record - on Saturday when Roly Poly won the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bowness Stud Mare Investment Rewarded with $650,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
At the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale Bowness Stud bid $70,000 to secure a young well related mare by American Pharoah (USA) in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) in her first season and the resulting colt from that mating provided a huge windfall when selling for $650,000 on Tuesday at the Gold Coast.
$1.7Million Wootton Bassett Colt to Race in Munz Colours
The highest priced colt during the opening session of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on Tuesday was the Milburn Creek bred and consigned Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Battleofwinterfell (USA) that sold for $1.7million.
$1.6million for I Am Invincible Filly from Avantage
The first million dollar yearling to be sold at the Gold Coast at Magic Millions this year arrived late in the afternoon when the Coolmore consigned I Am Invincible filly from Avantage stepped into the sale ring.
Savvy Broodmare Investment Delivers $400,000 Toronado Colt for Daandine
Queensland farm Daandine Stud have bred and sold a lot of good horses including Golden Slipper and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winning sire Capitalist and a mare they purchased at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale in 2023 for $250,000 produced a great result for them on Tuesday at the Gold Coast.
Sires With Winners - Monday January 6
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$550,000 for First Two Home Affairs Yearlings to Sell at MM
A dual Group I winning son of champion sire I Am Invincible, Coolmore based Home Affairs is the most represented sire at Magic Millions this year and the first of his yearlings was offered as Lot 10 and got the sale off to a good start when selling for $550,000 to the newly former partnership James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership/Tony Fung Colts.
Jamieson Park Celebrate Grail Seeker G1 Success
Further top-flight success on the home front and an overseas double has boosted spirits at Jamieson Park ahead of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
Go Bloodstock Purchase Snitzel Colt for $850,000
Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds and sold by Segenhoe is often a recipe for stakes success and Go Bloodstock will be hoping they have got the recipe right again after purchasing a Snitzel colt from Villami for $850,000 at Magic Millions on Tuesday.
David Ellis Purchases $625,000 Snitzel Colt
Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis knows exactly what he is looking for at the Gold Coast having bought Champion Sprinter Imperatriz and Champion 2YO Sword of State from Magic Millions and he made his first purchase at this year’s sale early on Tuesday paying $625,000 for a colt by champion sire Snitzel.
Belclare Chasing Another Kiwi G1
Following a lucrative spring campaign in Sydney, multiple Group One winner Belclare has returned to New Zealand in a bid to secure her third successive Gr.1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) crown at Ellerslie on Champions Day in March.