At the 2024 Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale, McKeever Bloodstock / Waterhouse Bott paid 250,000 guineas for Frankel colt The Euphrates and he started paying that sum back at Randwick on Saturday when leading all the way to win the Group III ATC Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) in fast time.
A Listed winner in Ireland and competitive in Group races including a fourth in the Group I Irish St Leger, The Euphrates was gelded in his time away from racing and had a good pipe opener when fourth in the Group II ATC Chelmsford Stakes at his first Australian start.
Sent to the front by Tim Clark, he soon settled into his stride and kept up a good gallop all the way to the line to win by the best part of a length with connections immediately indicating the Melbourne Cup is on the radar.
“He put the writing on the wall with a great return over the mile. He has backed that up and really gone ahead today over more suitable conditions,” said Adrian bott.
“The Metropolitan (G2) has always been the plan with him, but we have been thinking further ahead with him. The big picture is the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup with him.
“He has two mile form in Europe and certainly stays the trip at a higher level, and he showed that today. He will go to The Metropolitan next run and the further we get with him the better.
“He has that brilliant tactical speed, that cruising speed, and that ability to sustain it which is going to open up some great staying feature races for him.’’
The Euphrates was originally bought for 800,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by MV Magnie and White Birch Farm, so started his racing career at Ballydoyle in the care of Aidan O’Brien.
He has the overall record of four wins and three placings from 13 starts and has 54kg in the Melbourne Cup.
The Euphrates is bred to stay all day and is the best of three winners from four foals to race from stakes-placed Montjeu mare Auld Alliance, a half-sister to dual Group I winner Golan.
