Quality European stayers sold to race in Australia
TWO quality European stayers have been sold to race in Australia from the Willie Mullins stables.
Clondaw Warrior and Ivan Grozny have been highly successful in Europe for the Mullins stable, winning over $1 million in stake money between them, and now they both head to Australia for warmer pastures.
Mullins has been a regular visitor to Melbourne in recent history for the Melbourne Cup where he has lined up the likes of 2017 placegetter Max Dynamite, Wicklow Brave and Thomas Hobson. Now, two of his most successful grand thoroughbreds will make their new home in Australia.
Clondaw Warrior is a 10-year-old which could compete on both the flat and jumping circuits. An accomplished performer, the son of Overbury has scored six wins from 20 starts on the flat and seven wins from 26 starts over jumps.
Punters in Australia know just how strong flat and jumping form from Europe is against the local hopes and although he hasn’t been able to win since December last year, Clondaw Warrior has been tested against the likes of Vroum Vroum Mag and Red Cardinal – regular performers at the Royal Ascot carnival.
The well-travelled gelding has competed all around the world, which included a run at Arlington behind American champion Da Big Hoss. That effort for second in a world class race is going to stack up extremely well in Australia, regardless of it Clondaw Warrior races on the flat or over jumps.
Big-race victories and over £600,000 between them – Ivan Grozny and Clondaw Warrior are being sold to race in Australia. Grand servants! pic.twitter.com/UdOndktKw8
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 14, 2017
Stablemate Ivan Grozny doesn’t boast the same form lines, but the younger seven-year-old still has plenty in the tank for the rest of the season.
The Irish-bred gelding is a five-time winner over jumps and he has returned European punters a 1000 percent return on income in only 17 starts.
It produced a three-run winning streak in 2016, following its ninth at Royal Ascot behind Kinema, which has subsequently come to Australia with mixed results. Having been unable to win since October last year, Ivan Grozny will look for easier opposition in Australia.
A sixth behind Wicklow Brave and a 15th behind Nakeeta weren’t good enough performances to suggest it could continue racing in the tough European climate, so heading to Australia should open up some good opportunities.