It was October 2020: the peak of COVID in Europe. International borders were firmly shut, and large portions of Australians were beginning to emerge from harsh lockdowns. Not only was there no hope of Jim heading to Europe to scour the bloodstock market, we could not even task our usual bloodstock and vet associates in England to cross the English Channel into Europe. With much economic uncertainty, we also did not know how COVID was going to affect the global economy in general let alone the bloodstock market.
Yet.
With the races still continuing in NSW, I was busy as usual; but, newly relocated to Brisbane, Jimbo had time on his hands and was avidly keeping his eye on stakes races across Europe. I tasked Jim and his UK based associate, Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock to, “Find a good one, boys!”.
Looking for a horse with stamina but also a turn of foot, we needed a horse suitable for Australia - well-performed, yet still with upside. A horse that had run to a high enough level that gave us confidence that we could reach stakes grade. One that hadn’t been heavily campaigned and ideally had shown versatility with respect to ground conditions.
ARAPAHO enters the scene…
Bred by the wife of highly successful French trainer, Andre Fabre, ARAPAHO won his first start as a 2yo in a maiden at Saint-Cloud. With quite a good commercial pedigree, and as a colt, he was purchased by Coolmore, staying in training with Fabre. He progressed through the grades as a 3yo to win a stakes race, before he was tested in the Group 1 French 2000 Guineas, placing 6th, which meant his stallion appeal in the northern hemisphere was starting to diminish. He had two more runs in Stakes grade and was then entered for sale in November of his 3yo year. Serious about purchasing him, we had to lean on our trusted network in France to help with in person inspections, conformation reports, photos & videos. Our English vet was able to look at the X-rays and the scope online, and she tasked a French colleague to do a clinical inspection on site.
At the time of purchase, we were looking at him as a 1600-2000m horse. We knew he was a stakes class horse and there were more million dollar races in Australia than we could target him at, so it seemed an astute buy.
Hitting Australian shores, he took a little time to acclimatise. Jumping forward to his most recent prep, ARAPAHO’s first up run was really encouraging, but perplexingly he was beaten by a huge 15L at Tamworth next start. As his trials and work were very good, in hindsight I think perhaps it was an issue of a very hard surface. Starting to get up in trip, he ran very well at Hawkesbury over 1800m, and it was his next start at Rosehill on the 21st of May where everything turned for him, winning by an impressive 7.6L in town. From then, ARAPAHO has been an absolute model of consistency. With a listed placing in the Caloundra Cup, then winning the Listed Grafton Cup, we started to put plans in place to plot a path to the big one - The Melbourne Cup.
Tasting Group success in the Group 3 Premiers’ Cup, it was then time to test his distance credentials which he certainly displayed when finishing well to run second in the St Leger over 2600m. His relaxed racing pattern, turn of foot and versatility give me the confidence he can stay the 3200m distance.
A really content, well-mannered horse, ARAPAHO walks with purpose and is bright and engaged in the training process. He isn’t particularly cuddly, but he very much enjoys stable life and his work. Our trackwork rider, jockey Brandon Lerena has been Arapaho’s regular partner from the word go and from Grafton onwards he formed a strong association with Rachel King who has ridden him pretty much every start since. Senior foreperson, Marion has accompanied ARAPAHO to Melbourne - side note, as a fluent French speaker, I have charged her with whispering French endearments into his ear!
With a mix of long-term loyal stable clients (some of whom have been with me since the very beginning), and new owners having their first horse with me, I am just thrilled to help them realise their dream of having a Melbourne Cup runner.
So, how is he going to perform on Tuesday? Previously a victim of wide gates, ARAPAHO has often had to go back. Although I would have preferred to have drawn further in, in drawing gate 19 I think considering the wet track and a big field, Rachel knows him well and will do her best to get him in a good spot.
ARAPAHO has some good form around some of the favourites in the race and we are confident he will perform well above market expectations - and with some luck in running, he should perform very well.
I thank all of you for your support - we are thrilled to be in a position to throw the dice at what is such an historic, prestigious and hotly contested race - the mighty Melbourne Cup.
Bjorn Baker and the Team
