The legendary trainer Aidan O'Brien has decided to send six of his horses to Australia for the Melbourne Spring Carnival, with the chosen equine talent currently heading into quarantine before Wednesday's deadline.
Leading the way for yard out of the six horses is the 2019 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck who heads down under off the back of a superb performance in the Group Two Prix Foy, where he saw off a strong challenge from the leading stayer in the sport Stradivarius for the second time this season.
O'Brien is set to send a really strong team over for the festival with his Irish Derby winner Santiago also set to make the trip alongside stablemate Tiger Moth who was a narrow second to the Derby winner last time they met.
The team could be completed by Armory, who finished a career-best third in the Irish Champion Stakes at the weekend and also Wichita will make the trip off the back of winning the Group Two Park Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday.
Thriller! Anthony Van Dyck defeats Stradivarius to win the Group 2 Qatar Prix Foy for @mickaelbarzalon and Aidan O’Brien at @paris_longchamp! pic.twitter.com/44roL9x7vm
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 13, 2020
Racing Victoria general manager of international operations Paul Bloodworth has explained that O'Brien had informed him that six horses would enter quarantine in Ireland on Wednesday ahead of making the long trip to Australia.
(Credit Racing Post) He added:"Aidan has advised that these horses are going into quarantine on Wednesday morning, so that's the first step because you can't come to Melbourne unless you do your two weeks' quarantine in Ireland.
"They have in the past put more horses into quarantine than have actually come into Melbourne so I'm not trying to put a dampener on things here but that's just the slight thing we have to wait for to see who they bring.
"But I think it's a very good indication because of the circumstances of this year, around getting here and all the work they've done to get their staff here."