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Son of Camelot to line up in Golden Mile
Talented British import English King (Camelot) will make his much anticipated Australian debut in the Golden Mile (Listed, 1600m) at Bendigo on Saturday.
The son of Camelot (Montjeu) won the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (Listed, 1m3.5f) after which he was subsequently installed as favourite for The Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f), in which he finished fifth.
Formerly trained in Britain by Ed Walker, the colt was purchased by Armando Duarte / Paul Moroney Bloodstock and his now trainer Mike Moroney’s Ballymore Stables for 925,000gns at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale last October.
Moroney also purchased Keats (Galileo) and Emissary (Kingman) at the Tattersalls sale and went straight into work after completing quarantine.
Emissary was gelded after one jump-out and sent for a spell while Keats was given a third jump-out on Friday, with Moroney also considering gelding the son of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells).
English King will remain an entire with the hope of finding a stallion home after his racing days are complete.
"The disappointing part is that they have enough breeding to say they could stay colts, but we're kidding ourselves to say they'll all make stallions," Moroney said.
"English King, he's different. He's by Camelot and I think if he can win Group 1 races, he'll find a home here in Australia."
Moroney said the Golden Mile at Bendigo was a nice starting point following three jump-outs in which he pleased his new trainer.
Following Saturday's outing, Moroney said a decision would be made whether to press on to Sydney for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Randwick on April 17 or to head for a spell.
"It will be too short for him, but it's a good start off for him on a nice big track and we'll just see what we make of that," Moroney said.
"First thoughts are that if he does go well enough, we will take him up to Sydney for the Queen Elizabeth and then give him a break, or he’ll go straight to the paddock after one run."