A Prince Of Arran Earns Golden Ticket to Melbourne Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday November 3

Third in the Herbert Power Stakes behind ruling Cup favourite Yucatan, the Charlie Fellowes-trained A Prince Of Arran (GB) needed to win Saturday's $300,000 Group III Lexus Stakes to earn a spot in next Tuesday's Melbourne Cup and he did just that.

With Michael Walker giving the British import a positive ride, A Prince Of Arran (GB) held the challenge of Brimham Rocks (GB) by a half-length to hand that Chris Waller-trained daughter of Fastnet Rock her 8th placing from as many starts since arriving from England.

Jaameh (IRE) was one and three-quarter lengths back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)

The 32yo Fellowes, who spent a year working with Lee Freedman, said the 6yo son of Shirocco had given him the thrill of a lifetime.


"Plans don't often come off like they did there but he has been in great form and he travelled over here so well. The girl that is leading him up, Natasha, has done the most unbelievable job with him all year, even in the beginning in Dubai," Fellows said.

"I just can't believe we are in the big one on Tuesday.

"That's the biggest win of my career, it's the first Group win of my career and to win on a massive day like today is huge.

"This was our derby. This was the race we needed to win and anything from now on is a bonus.

"We'll freshen him up, hopefully, he comes out of it good, and we'll give it our best shot on Tuesday."

A Prince Of Arran (GB) arrived in Australia of the back of placings in the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup in America and Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. But he was registering his first stakes win in the Lexus.

The late, great German stallion Monsun has sired the winners of three of the last five Melbourne Cups and A Prince Of Arran's sire Shirocco would rate as one of Monsun's best sons.

His seven wins included the 2005 Breeders' Cup Turf, the Coronation Stakes and the German Derby.

A Prince Of Arran becomes his 33rd stakes winner.

The dam of A Prince Of Arran, Storming Sioux, a daughter of Machiavellian's 4-time Group 1 winning son Storming Home, is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 Longchamp Prix d'Ispahan winner Best Of The Bests out of the Group III Fred Darling Stakes winner Sueboog (Darshaan).

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Bravo Centurion - How Good is He?
Ridden by Chris Parnham for Luke Fernie, Bravo Centurion stretched his winning run to six, making every post a winner to defeat Saloon Bar (Sessions) by a long three and three-quarter lengths with Crippalenko (Maschino) a half-length back in third.
Fawkner Park Back to Winning Ways in G3 Rosehill Gold Cup
Since winning the Listed Albury Gold Cup in March, Fawkner Park has undergone an amazing transformation.
Third G1 Win for Star Savabeel Mare Atishu
A year after flying home for second behind Pride Of Jenni in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Go Racing’s pin-up girl Atishu(NZ) (Savabeel) returned to Flemington on Saturday and went one better for the Kiwi syndicators.
William Haggas Trained Lake Forest Triumphs in Golden Eagle
William Haggas is playing his part in keeping the UK economy afloat, taking home a further $5,250,000 after Lake Forest (GB) won an action-packed James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.
Invincible Mares Quinella G3 Furphy Sprint
The first foal of triple Group I winning mare Shoals, blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.
Switzerland Brother an Inglis Easter Highlight for 2025
An “arrogant’’, “dominant’’ and “awesome’’ victory solidified Easter Sale superstar Switzerland’s future at stud when he produced a devastating performance to win the stallion making G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington today.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The all important barrier draw for the world’s richest handicap, the $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been held for a field which contains horses bred in seven countries and trained in four.
Switzerland Wins the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for Coolmore
After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.