RUSSIAN CAMELOT SET TO STAND IN AUSTRALIA

Russian Camelot’s career came to an abrupt end after the lightly raced son of Camelot tore a tendon in trackwork and was forced into immediate retirement only days after competing in the $5m All Star Mile.

According to the ownership group there were multiple offers both at home and abroad for the former Danny O’Brien trained runner however a deal is now expected in the coming days to keep the one time Melbourne Cup favourite at home.

“We would have been racing in the Doncaster last Saturday had the horse not had the [tendon] injury that he’s got,” said Wheeler.

“That’s disappointing in itself, but you have got to keep moving on. Really, the stud deal has only been brought forward by six or seven months, to be honest. He would have run in the spring, but he was unlikely to race in the autumn.

“The horse is full of himself and you wouldn’t know that he has got a tendon injury. He is in good shape. It’s cold, but it's the same old story, it’s not good enough for him to race on.”

Wheeler would not divulge the stud who had successfully negotiated the purchase of last year’s Cox Plate placegetter, but he indicated Russian Camelot’s original owners were keeping a large percentage of the horse and they would support him with mares from next season.

Russian Camelot’s brief history involved a 120,000gns purchase by UK agent Jeremy Brummitt from the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for an Australian partnership led by Wheeler. He was immediately sent to Australia to be broken in and trained by O’Brien, who prepared him to win four of his 11 starts.

The four wins of course included huge displays in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes as well as the SA Derby. 

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