Khan the King of Caulfield

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale graduate Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) ran out a convincing winner of the A$3 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield, beating a field full of international form.

Mongolian Khan victorious in the Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup.

Unbeaten at 2400m, this is Mongolian Khan’s first victory since winning the Group 1 Australian Derby for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. With three previous starts this season, last weekend saw him running on strongly to finish third in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes to kiwi-bred Criterion (NZ) (Sebring). He had earlier run encouraging races in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes and Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes.

The Karaka graduate was crowned New Zealand’s Horse of the Year following his dual derby triumphs last season - the Group 1 New Zealand Derby and the Group 1 Australian Derby – making him the first horse since Bonecrusher (NZ) 30 years ago to make the derby double.

“I was very happy with the horse going into the race,” commented Baker. “He had a couple of runs at Caulfield and is very fit. He was a form runner.

“He [Mongolian Khan] has always given me the impression he would be a 2400m horse. He’ll be in the Melbourne Cup next and he certainly shapes like he can go the extra distance.”

The Group 1 A$6 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) will be held at Flemington on 3 November. The last horse to complete the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double was the last New Zealand trained horse to win the Group 1 Caulfield Cup – Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm).

Commencing from barrier 6 with top New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson aboard, Mongolian Khan settled behind the leaders, spotting five-lengths from the leader. Challenging the leaders from the 700 metres, he edged out to race four wide before hitting the front at the top of the straight.

Mongolian Khan quickly put a gap on the field with European Group 1 winner Trip To Paris (Champs Elysees) attempting to run him down. There was no catching the kiwi as he went to the line strongly for victory by half-a-length over Trip To Paris with Our Ivanhowe (Soldier Hollow) finishing in third place.

Raced by Mr Lang Lin of the China Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Group, who purchased him for $220,000 at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds from Regal Farm, the four-year-old entire has now amassed A$3,870,333 in prizemoney, winning eight of his 13 starts.

Mongolian Khan was initially purchased as a yearling by Bryce and Ginger Tankard’s Waikato Bloodstock at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale for $140,000 from Ainsley Downs Stud.

Bred by Grenville Stud, the son of Holy Roman Emperor is out of unraced mare Centafit (Centaine) who is a full-sister to stakes winner Centalong-Super Fit (H.K.), winner of the Hong Kong Group 1 Hong Kong Derby. Mongolian Khan is a half-brother to Young Centaur (Jeune), winner of the Group 1 Wellington Cup over the Melbourne Cup distance of 3200m.

NZB’s Ready to Run Sale graduate earned his third Group 1 win on the weekend before the 2015 NZB Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups are held.

Breeze Ups commence tomorrow (Monday 19) and Tuesday 20 at Te Rapa Racecourse, starting at 10am both days. New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs will be held on 18 & 19 November at Karaka.

Mongolian Khan’s win is the 13th Group 1 victory by a NZB Ready to Run Sale graduate since the start of the 2012/13 racing season, cementing the Sale’s position as the leading two-year-old sale in Australia, with no other comparable sale having a Group 1 winner in that time.

The 2015 NZB Breeze Up programme can be found the NZB website and will be available from reception at Te Rapa Racecourse. To request a catalogue email reception@nzb.co.nz or phone (09) 298 0055.