Written by Paul Vettise
Australian Bloodstock’s colours will be a familiar sight on the closing day of The Championships at Randwick.
The New South Wales-based syndicator will have an impressive five Group 1 contenders in action, including an in-form filly in the Heineken 3 Australian Oaks and she was purchased with Classic intentions.
The Kris Lees-trained Aliferous (Hinchinbrook) has emerged as a genuine prospect and her potential fulfilled since she stepped up to a middle distance.
In her first appearance beyond a mile, the 3-year-old finished off emphatically from the back of the field to win the G3 Adrian Knox S. over 2000 metres. The way she finished off over 2000 metres has Australian Bloodstock confident of her ability to do the same over 2400 metres.
“Obviously she has got to take another step, but she is bred to run a trip and a lot of them won’t stay,” Jamie Lovett said.
“As long as Kerrin puts her to sleep, I think she’s run the trip without a worry.” – Jamie Lovett.
“She closed off really strongly the other day and the last bit of her race was the best.”
Aliferous will also have the service of highly successful Group 1 rider Kerrin McEvoy.
“As long as Kerrin puts her to sleep, I think she’s run the trip without a worry,” Lovett said. “She’s on the seven day back-up and that’s a bit foreign, but she came through the race very well.”
Aliferous was purchased out of Yarraman Park Stud’s 2017 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale draft for $130,000.
“All I can say is that you try and buy an Oaks filly.” – Jamie Lovett.
“She was the only one we bought there,” Lovett said. “We bought her with the view of finding something that might fall through the cracks and might take a bit of time.
Aliferous as a yearling
“All I can say is that you try and buy an Oaks filly. Hinchinbrook was going really well at the time and I really liked her pedigree.
“There was a bit of black type there with a couple Pat Carey was training and I thought they were a bit better than they may have looked.”
Aliferous is a half-sister to the Listed Lord S. winner Ulundi (Helenus) and his brother Durnford, Listed winner of the Mornington Cup Prelude.
“She enjoys getting her toe in the ground, but she’s not a one trick pony and is pretty adaptable.” – Jamie Lovett.
Their dam Willow (Woodsman {USA}) is also a half-sister to the G3 Frank Packer Plate winner Afraah (Danehill {USA}) and the family of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Dangerous Midge (USA) (Lion Heart {USA}).
“She won her first start for us and we’ve gradually got her out to a trip,” Lovett said. “She enjoys getting her toe in the ground, but she’s not a one trick pony and is pretty adaptable.”
Trainer Kris Lees, Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell with the Brave Smash entourage during a recent trip to Dubai
Australian Bloodstock will also attack the G1 Schweppes Sydney Cup with numbers, a quartet of stayers to be precise.
Aliferous’ stablemates Big Duke (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}), Red Cardinal (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Doukhan (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) will run for trainer Less while Shraaoh (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is prepared by Chris Waller.
“I think Shraaoh is our best chance now from his gate.” – Jamie Lovett.
“I thought Big Duke would be our best hope, but he’s drawn 21 so will have to go back,” Lovett said. “I think Shraaoh is our best chance now from his gate.”
Big Duke is proved at 3200 metres having finished third in the race two years ago and he also ran fourth in the G1 Melbourne Cup of 2017 behind Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
His more recent form is also sold and rounded off his preparation when second behind the weight-for-age star Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G1 Tancred S.
Shraaoh has made impressive progress to this level and in his most recent appearance he was second to Gallic Chieftain (Fr) (Tamayuz {GB}) in the G2 Chairman’s H.
Red Cardinal won the Listed Parramatta Cup and the G3 Sky High S. before a fair seventh in the Tancred while Doukhan was sixth and was seventh in the race 12 months ago.
“She was a bit disappointing the other day, but she did win the G3 Newmarket well.” – Jamie Lovett.
Another stakes hope for Australian Bloodstock is the Lees-prepared Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), who steps out in the G1 Coolmore Legacy S.
“She was a bit disappointing the other day, but she did win the G3 Newmarket well. She’s been a terrific mare for us,” Lovett said.
Princess Posh was a $25,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale buy and has won eight races, two at Group 3 level, and has earned more than $620,000.
