In the last few years, Australian trainers have found German-breds a rich source of staying talent and the Robert Hickmott-trainedIn the last few years Australian trainers have found German-breds a rich source of staying talent and the Robert Hickmott-trained Schabau (GER) is shaping as the next star.
Still a 3yo in the northern hemisphere, Schabau (GER) has won his only three starts in Australia culminating in his first stakes success in Saturday's Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington.
Sentofan odds-on favourite under Craig Williams, Schabau (GER) has little more than a working gallop by three and three-quarter lengths over the Naval Warfare (IRE), with a further three-quarter of a length to Top Of The Range (Savabeel) in third. (images Grant Courtney)
It was so impressive the thoughts of his trainer were already on the first Tuesday in November.
"He goes to the paddock now for four to five weeks and comes back for a shot at The Bart Cummings," Hickmott told racing.com.
"Win that and we're in (the Melbourne Cup).
"That's what we bought him for. He's a very sharp horse with a huge aerobic capacity. Over two miles (3200m) he would be one of those horses that can still skip home in sub-34 (seconds) and if he can do that he's right in the mix."
Hickmott knows what it takes to win the Melbourne Cup having won the race twice, first with the Irish-bred Green Moon (IRE) in 2012 and again in 2016 with the German-bred Almandin, from his time as head trainer for Lloyd Williams.
Bloodstock agent Suman Hedge had been closely monitoring the progress of Schabau (GER) in Germany. The son of Pastorius had placed in his first four starts before breaking through over 2000m at Hamburg on July 1 last year.
Seven days later on Deutsches Derby day, Schabau (GER) was again an impressive winner over 2200m and Hedge brokered a deal with Hickmott to purchase the 3yo who was still eligible for benchmark races in Australia.
He comes from the first crop of Pastorius and credits his sire with his first stakes-winner.
The Champion 3YO Colt in Europe & Germany in 2012 (Int.) and the Champion Older Male in Germany in 2013, Pastorius was an easy winner of the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp in addition to victories in the Group 1 Deutsches Derby and Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis.
From the first crop of Soldier Hollow, Pastorius is out of the Monsun mare Princess Li. Both Soldier Hollow and Monsun have enjoyed great success in Australia.
Soldier Hollow is best known in these parts as the sire of Doomben Cup and Ranvet Stakes winner OurIvanhowe(GER) as well Australian Bloodstock's tragically short-lived Salon Soldier (GER) who won his only two starts in Australia, a dominant win over 1600m at Randwick on his Australian debut and the Listed Visit Victoria Plate (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day in 2013.
The winner of the cup that year was Fiorente (IRE), the first of Monsun's Melbourne Cup winners, which was followed in quick succession by Protectionist (GER) in 2014 and Almandin (GER) in 2016.
Schabau (GER) is the only winner from two to race out of the 2-time stakes-placed winner Staying Alive who is a daughter of Danehill stallion Royal Dragon, who was the Champion 3yo Miler in Germany in 2011.
