From Dermot Weld’s Vintage Crop in 1993 to Charlie Appleby’s Cross Counter in 2018, some top overseas horses have landed the Melbourne Cup. 2020 looks to have a very strong European influence once again.
Tiger Moth Now Top of the Crop
Addeybb provided a great influence on Aussie racing back in the autumn, now the Spring Carnival is set for a whole new northern hemisphere invasion. Here’s the pick of them.
Ashrun
German-trained Andreas Wohler has campaigned this four-year-old in his homeland and France until now. He hasn’t won a race since August 2019, but is still improving and certainly stays the distance.
A Group 3 winner at Deauville and third in a German Group 1, this son of Authorized handles any type of ground and is the sort of horse to be staying on up the stretch when the majority have cried enough.
Anthony Van Dyck
A high-class horse and one of three potential runners for Irish master Aidan O’Brien. Anthony Van Dyck was the 2019 Derby winner in England and will head first for the $5million Caulfield Cup.
He’s an interesting sort given that he’s predominantly a mile-and-a-half horse, a distance over which he was second to the world’s highest-rated horse (Ghaiyyath) in June and beat Stradivarius over in a Group 2 at Longchamp.
Prince of Arran
Charlie Fellowes’ seven-year-old has built up quite the following here. Third, in 2018 and a close second in 2018, Prince of Arran is now attempting the Melbourne Cup race for the third time.
He’s had a different prep this time around though. On both previous visits he had two runs in Australia, always being placed, but this time hasn’t seen the track since an admittedly good run in third behind Enable at Kempton Park in September.
Santiago
Jockey John Allen has already had a sit on Aidan O’Brien’s son of Authorized, just a three-year-old but a very tough one.
If you trust his lack of experience then he’s certainly done enough form-wise. A winner at Royal Ascot and in the Irish Derby, Santiago has since finished third to Stradivarius and fourth in the St Leger in England and is a very high-profile contender.
Tiger Moth
Backed very heavily in recent days, Tiger Moth is another Aidan O’Brien three-year-old and the Irish champion trainer’s apparent number one.
He’s only had four runs in his life, finishing a close second to Santiago before winning a Group 3 at Leopardstown most recently, with a lot depending on his weight and barrier draw.
For more information about the final results of the race, check the Melbourne Cup 2020 results.
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