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| Staff Writer |
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Aidan O'Brien is launching a fresh assault on Australia's most coveted prize, as undefeated stayer Jan Brueghel prepares to enter quarantine this week ahead of a tilt at the Melbourne Cup. The Ballydoyle maestro is eyeing his first victory in the US$5.3 million (£4.2 million) showpiece, having come agonisingly close in recent years.
O'Brien's last runner in the prestigious Flemington contest came in 2020, when Tiger Moth stormed home to claim second place. The Irish trainer had previously saddled Johannes Vermeer to a narrow defeat in 2017, finishing third behind Rekindling.
Fresh from his dominant display in the Gr.1 St Leger at Doncaster, Jan Brueghel is set to join the final shipment of European raiders bound for Melbourne. The son of Dubawi will be accompanied by Willie Mullins' duo Vauban and Absurde, as the Irish contingent mounts a strong challenge for the 3200-metre event.
O'Brien expressed confidence in his charge's preparation, stating: "He's come out of the St Leger very well... everyone is happy." The Ballydoyle handler is no stranger to success on the international stage, having saddled winners of virtually every major prize in world racing.
The Melbourne Cup boasts a rich history of champion stayers etching their names into racing folklore. Makybe Diva stands alone as the only three-time winner (2003, 2004, 2005), while more recent victors include Verry Elleegant (2021), who went on to claim the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère in France, and Gold Trip (2022), who followed up with victory in the Australian Cup.
Jan Brueghel's imminent arrival in Australia has seen his Melbourne Cup odds shorten considerably. The unbeaten colt now sits prominently in the market as European-trained runners once again pose a significant threat to the local defenders.
Willie Mullins, Ireland's champion National Hunt trainer, is mounting a two-pronged attack with Royal Ascot winner Vauban and the progressive Absurde. The Closutton handler has come close to Melbourne Cup glory in the past, most notably with Max Dynamite, who finished second in 2015 and third in 2017.
As the 'race that stops a nation' draws nearer, the international flavour of the Melbourne Cup continues to grow. O'Brien's decision to target the race with his St Leger hero adds another layer of intrigue to what promises to be a fascinating renewal of Australia's most famous horse race.