Mongolian Khan Powers Away in Caulfield Cup

Favorite Mongolian Khan (AUS) asserted his authority in the final sixteenth of the Aus$3 million BMW Caulfield Cup (Aus-I) Oct. 17 and pulled away to a commanding victory. 

 

Based in New Zealand with trainer Murray Baker, Mongolian Khan won by half-length from trainer Ed Dunlop's Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-I) winner Trip To Paris, with German group I winner Ivanhowe 1 3/4 lengths away in third in the 18-horse field. The top three are all aiming for the two-mile Emirates Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) Nov. 3.

 

"We think he's probably more of a Melbourne Cup horse, but (it's) whether they can run that extra 800 meters," Baker said of Mongolian Khan. "I think he can get it."

 

Jockey Opie Bosson settled Mongolian Khan in seventh, well back early as Set Square laid down the early pace, closely attended by Magnapal, Snow Sky, and Royal Descent. With Bosson sitting quietly, Mongolian Khan was shadowed by Trip To Paris. 

 

Set Square maintained her advantage until the home turn, where Mongolian Khan improved his position very quickly along with Trip To Paris and Ivanhowe and then got the best of those rivals with his staying ability.

 

Mongolian Khan was timed in 2:27.76 for 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) on good turf.

 

Protectionist, last year's Melbourne Cup winner, was never a threat, finishing 15th. 

 

Owned by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry Ltd., whose principal is Lang Lin, 4-year-old Mongolian Khan has an 8-0-1 career line from 13 starts that includes victories in the Australian Derby (Aus-I) and New Zealand Derby (NZ-I) last season.

 

Mongolian Khan, a son of Holy Roman Emperor, was bred and sold by Tasmania's Grenville Stud as a weanling for Aus$9,000 ($8,924) at the 2012 Inglis Great Southern sale. His dam is the Centaine mare Centafit, and he is a half brother to New Zealand group I winner Young Centaur.