Coolmore Signal Melbourne Cup Intentions

22nd September 2007

Speaking from Caulfield on Saturday, Tom Magnier confirmed that Coolmore will send two horses to Australia for the Melbourne Cup this year, with Scorpion (5h Montjeu - Ardmelody, by Law Society) and Mahler (3c Galileo - Rainbow Goddess, by Rainbow Quest) named as definite candidates for Australia’s richest race.

To be run over 3200 metres at Flemington on November 6, the Melbourne Cup will be the next start for Scorpion and Mahler who will depart Ireland without another run.

“Aidan (O’Brien) is very eager to win the race and after discussing it last night we agreed that Scorpion and Mahler are the two horses best suited to come out,” said Tom Magnier.

“Last year we were keen and very much enjoyed the experience with Yeats, but the hunger is there now to win the race and the team really wants it.”

A five year-old entire by Monteju, Scorpion is a high class stayer with four wins and six seconds from 15 starts, three of his four wins in Group One events such as the English St Leger as a three-year old and more recently in the Group One Coronation Cup at Epsom.

He will arrive in Melbourne for the Cup coming off a last start second in the Group One Irish St Leger beaten half a length by stablemate Yeats and will carry top weight of 58.5 kg.

Interestingly, Scorpion is closely related to Australian based Cup contender Zipping, who is by Danehill from Social Scene, a half-sister to Scorpion.

Progressive three year-old colt Mahler only made his debut on April 7 this year, but the son of Galileo has made rapid improvement putting together the tidy record of three wins and a second from just seven starts.

An impressive three and a half length winner of the Group Three Queens Vase over two miles at Ascot, Mahler finished second at his most recent run in the Group One English St Leger and has the feather weight of 50kg to carry in the Cup.

“Scorpion will be ridden by Michael Kinane, while Steve Baster will take the ride on Mahler as we’ve had some luck with him when he won a Group One on Aqua D’Amore earlier in the year,” added Magnier.