Mugatoo Tops Irish-Bred Finish to All-Star Mile
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Photo: Mark Gatt
Mugatoo (inside) defeats Russian Camelot to win the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley Racecourse
Irish-bred runners dominated the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley March 13 with Mugatoo narrowly denying Russian Camelot.
Mugatoo, a gelded son of Henrythenavigator, was bred by Frau Bscher and was a €17,000 (US$18,122) purchase as a foal from Goffs November when selling to Herbertstown House Stud from Newtown Stud.
Ronan and Marcella Burns of Herbertstown House bought him back at Book 2 of Tattersalls October Yearling Sale the following year and raced him with David Simcock.
The 6-year-old was then transferred to Kris Lees and is now owned by Australia Bloodstock and Power Thoroughbreds. He has won two group 3 contests and was a narrow second to Mirage Dancer in the Oct. 3 Heineken Metropolitan (G1) at Randwick.
A half brother to the stakes-winning, grade 2-placed Elik, the gelding has won over £1.7 million in prize money after landing the valuable AU$5 million mile contest, for which the runners are chosen through a vote by fans.
Runner-up Russian Camelot is another familiar name. Trained by Danny O'Brien, the son of Camelot became the first Northern Hemisphere-bred winner of a Derby in Australia when he won the Tab South Australian Derby (G1) at Morphettville last May.
The 4-year-old also landed the Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (G1) last year and was third to Sir Dragonet in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) in October.