The Melbourne Cup has been run and won for 2024 and as soon as it is over, trainers around the country start planning for next year and an impressive maiden winner at Mornington on Tuesday is bred for the task.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, lightly raced Camelot gelding Catani Gardens (IRE) was having his first start in Australia following two unplaced runs at the Curragh and Leopardstown in May and June last year when trained by Joseph O’Brien.
Sent out first up in 2025m maiden, Catani Gardens was a heavily backed favourite and cruised clear to win by three lengths giving the impression he will stay all day.
Catani Gardens was purchased for 205,000 guineas from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 by Joseph O’Brien and runs for Lloyd Williams and JD Packer Syndicate.
With a win under his belt the intention is to press on for the time being as Cantani Gardens learns his craft.
“We think (we’ll keep going). We’ll have a big chat with Lloyd, Nick (Williams) and the team, they’re obviously big supporters of ours,” said Sam Freedman.
“He’s progressive, he’s fairly inexperienced for a horse of his age. But he’s always galloped well and it’s nice to see him put it together today.
“He’s a lovely sound horse, he’s a good mover, he seems to handle all types of going.
“He’s a beautiful type. He’ll get further than today as well, so the future looks bright for him.”
Catani Gardens is a half-brother to stakes-winning stayer Baahama, the dam of two Group winning stayers and is the eighth winner from stakes-winning stayer Silver Rain.
His Epsom Derby winning sire Camelot has had a great year siring top class mare Bluestocking to win the Group I Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and Los Angeles to win the Group I Irish Derby and he also has a great record in Australia where his progeny include Group I winners Sir Dragonet and Russian Camelot (IRE), who stands at Widden Victoria and will have his first runners this season.
