Ivanhowe Latest Aussie Import

By Michael Sharkie 
As dawn broke over Flemington Friday, trainer Lee Freedman unveiled perhaps the most anticipated European import to arrive in Australia since G2 Hardwicke S. winner Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) stepped onto the same track in September 2013. 

Sea Moon has since been returned to Ireland by owner Lloyd Williams after a disappointing run, but Ivanhowe (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB})’s connections are hoping their dual Group 1-winning German entire will enjoy a far more successful career Down Under. 

Purchased by London-based agent and ex-pat Aussie David Baker on behalf of Australian clients in December, Ivanhowe will be prepared for the G1 Cox Plate and G1 Melbourne Cup later this year before embarking on an international campaign. 

Showing no signs of a brief bout of travel sickness acquired during transit to Melbourne, the G1 Grosser Preis Von Baden winner and conqueror of German Horse Of The Year Sea The Moon (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) looked in rude health when breezing down the Flemington straight, cuddled through the 800 meter heat by champion jockey Damien Oliver (white sleeves and red cap–video). 

“We were thrilled to get a horse of his quality and despite a little bit of a rocky start he’s been really well for the last 11 or 12 weeks,” Freedman said. “I’m more than happy with his trial this morning, as was Damien and we may give him a little look around in a mile race in Adelaide in a few weeks.” 

Ivanhowe joins an ever-growing list of horses relocated from Europe to Australia in the last five years, with import rates doubling during that time. The Australian Stud Book shows that European imports represented 27% of total imports in 2014, up from just 12% in 2010. That number is expected to exceed 30% by the end of 2015 in a market that seemingly cannot be sated. And this comes as Britain’s Thoroughbred Breeder’s Association hopes to plug the leak of its quality staying stock to Australia with the release of a study into the future of British stayers and staying races, which found that 50 individual stakes winners bred in Europe were able to win under Australian tutelage since 2011. 

Although the TBA release roused interest among patriotic Brits, it barely caused a stir in Australia with a number of prominent buyers unfettered by the news when speaking on industry radio station RSN on Monday (click here); they concurred the demand for tried stock is too great and sales prices too lucrative for any call to curb trade to be taken seriously in either hemisphere any time soon.