They are coming from far and wide for Saturday’s $5 million Caulfield Cup and while just about every major racing nation has representation there will be more than a passing interest in the result from far away Sweden.
While the strongly favoured Australian-owned and trained Kings Will Dream (Ire) was born in Ireland, his sire Casamento (pictured) stood at Ljungstorps Stud in Sweden this year after three seasons at Kildangan Stud and two at Dalham Hall.
The son of former Darley shuttler Shamardal was a top-class two-year-old winning three of his four starts, including the Group II Beresford Stakes and Group 1 Racing Post Trophy and added the Group III Prix du Prince d'Orange over 2000m at Longchamp from four starts at three.
A half-brother to the black-type winning hurdler His Excellency (King’s Best), King’s Will Dream (IRE) was a €50,000 Goffs Orby yearling purchase, before being sold for just 7,500gns as an unraced 2-year-old at the 2016 Tattersalls’ October Horses-In-Training Sale.
He placed in two maidens over a mile at Rippon before breaking his maiden over the same distance at Pontefract and was the on his way to Australia. Under the care of champion trainer Darren Weir, King’s Will Dream raced through his classes, reeling off five consecutive wins culminating with a five-length success in the 300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) and earning a free ticket for the Caulfield Cup.
Stepped up in class, King’s Will Dream hasn’t won in four starts since, however, he displayed his credentials with placings in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes, Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes.
The son of Casamento traces his line back to the champion mare Chris Evert.
As good on the track as her namesake was on the tennis court, Chris Evert won 10 of 15 career starts and was unplaced only once.
Honoured as the champion 3-year-old filly of 1974, Chris Evert won the Fillies Triple Crown (the Acorn, Mother Goose and the Coaching Club American Oaks).
In July of that year, she won the world's richest match race, a $350,000 winner take all event at Hollywood Park.
The photo finish camera was not needed as Chris Evert won by 50 lengths over Miss Musket.
Though she had a long life, living until she was 30, Chris Evert only had five foals.
All were fillies and she had two stakes winners and one stakes-placed.
To a mating with Secretariat, Chris Evert produced Six Crowns, who was the dam of the champion Chief's Crown who shuttled to Arrowfield for a couple of seasons although he is best known in this region as the sire of the underappreciated Woodland stallion Grand Lodge.
Three of Chris Evert’s daughters became black-type producers, including the unraced Nijinsky Star (Nijinsky).
A sister to the stakes-placed Tournament Star, Nijinsky Star was purchased by Juddmonte Farms at the 1987 Keeneland November Sale. She had already produced Kentucky Oaks placed Hometown Queen who herself became the dam of Grade II winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Bowman’s Band.
Covered by Riverman, Nijinsky Star produced Grade II winner and Grade 1-placed Revasser whose unraced daughter Road Harbour (Rodrigo de Triano) is the dam of King’s Will Dream (IRE).
When mated with Nureyev, Nijinsky Star left Listed winner Viviana who became a grand matron for Juddmonte.
Her daughter Sightseek (Distant View) won the Beldame Stakes (twice), Ogden Phipps Handicap (twice), Go For Wand Handicap, Ruffian Handicap and Humana Distaff Handicap, all at the highest level while Sightsdeek’s half-sister Tates Creek (Rahy), won the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes and Grade 1 Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Viviana’s less successful daughter, Quest To Peak (Distant View), is the dam of Special Duty (Hennessy) who was honoured as the Champion 2yr old filly in Europe in 2009 with wins in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, Group 1 English 1000 Guineas and Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
