First the Loch Ness Monster, now the Melbourne Cup?

Ben Dorries - Sunday October 15

Scotland has had Braveheart and the Loch Ness Monster but has never had a runner in Melbourne's spring racing carnival.

Nakeeta will be more famous in Scotland than the Loch Ness monster if Iain Jardine's stayer wins the Melbourne Cup

Until now.

Draped in the British Union Jack, the Iain Jardine trained Nakeeta arrived in Melbourne on Saturday and is likely to do some light work at Werribee on Monday morning.

Nakeeta, a $41 Melbourne Cup prospect, won the Ebor Handicap in August and is aiming to plot a similar path to last year's Ebor winner Heartbreak City.

Heartbreak City came within a neck of winning the Melbourne Cup last year when the Irish gelding ran second behind Almandin.

Jardine told the Daily Mail in the UK he had taken heart from Heartbreak City's huge performance in the 2016 Melbourne Cup.

"Heartbreak City nearly won the Melbourne Cup last year, we have the same weight (53kg) and we won the Ebor in a slightly faster time," Jardine said.

Nakeeta, the first horse trained in Scotland set to compete in the spring carnival, was one of five international horses that arrived in Melbourne on Saturday. The other four were Irish gallopers.

Joining Nakeeta at Racing Victoria's Werribee International Horse Centre were the Joseph O'Brien trained duo US Army Ranger and Rekindling, as well as Willie Mullins' pair Max Dynamite and Thomas Hobson.

Rekindling, owned by Lloyd Williams, will be the first spring carnival runner for O'Brien who is the son of Aidan O'Brien.

Aidan O'Brien had a good day on Saturday with Irish horse Johannes Vermeer zooming into Caulfield and Melbourne Cup contention with a fast finishing second behind Gailo Chop in the Group I Ladbrokes Stakes.

The latest crop of internationals will do some light work on Monday but nothing serious until next week.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Promising New Winner for Black Caviar
The racing and bloodstock world were saddened earlier this year following  the passing of undefeated world champion sprinter Black Caviar and her memory was recalled at Wangaratta on Monday when her three year-old filly Persian Caviar made a winning debut.
Super Seth Filly Set to Star for Wexford Stabels
Wexford Stables are bullish about landing a couple of knockout blows at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
Sires With Winners - Monday December 23
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vale, Don Goodwin
Don Goodwin, the breeder of 11-time Group One winner Verry Elleegant, has passed away, aged 86.
The Yearlings You Know You Want to See!
A flood of yearling images uploaded to the Magic Millions website ahead of the Christmas break have brought the first major Australian sale of 2025 to life in an online sense and for those who have not been visiting the farms in the lead up to the sale it’s a great chance to get a look at some of the superstar yearlings.
Boxing Day Interest at Ellerslie
Osteria was only upstaged by his talented older stablemate last time out, and back in his own age group, the gelding will be a contender in Thursday’s Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Ellerslie.
Magic Millions Order of Entry Updated – Blue Point Fillies on the Rise
After a busy weekend of racing, the Magic Millions order of entry for the 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas have been given a shake up with two fillies by Blue Point (IRE), a stallion that has had a mixed reception Australia, shooting into contention for the big day at the Gold Coast on January 11.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
A busy set of trials at Rosehill on Monday morning featured four heats for juveniles and the winners were all unraced youngsters by Tassort, Too Darn Hot (GB), Super Seth and Golden Slipper winner Farnan, while a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt showed he could possibly still get to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 24
Here is the full list of 9 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Eagerly Anticipated Karaka Debuts for First-Season Sires
An exciting group of rookie stallions will have their first yearlings going through the Karaka sale ring late next month.