For a second year in a row, the Highlands Stud based Canford Cliffs could be represented by a runner in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
His son Wall Of Fire, second in a barrier trial on August 21st, has been nominated for the 2018 G1 Lexus sponsored handicap, with the Melbourne Cup set this year to be run for a prize of AUS$7.3 million.
Also entered for the G1 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup, the talented entire was runner up in both the G2 Ladbrokes Herbert Power Stakes and G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes last year before finishing downfield in the 2017 Melbourne Cup.
A winner of four of 15 outings (he has three placings to his credit), Wall Of Fire, out of the Galileo mare Bright Sapphire, is bred on the same Canford Cliffs/Galileo cross as G1 Investec Coronation Cup runner up Salouen.
The latter was a creditable third in Sunday’s G2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville, when beaten under two and a half lengths by the progressive Loxley. Salouen, who has earned more than £400 000 in prize money, holds an entry in the 2018 G1 Qatar Prix de’l Arc de Triomphe.
A five time G1 winner, who won group races at Royal Ascot three years running, Canford Cliffs (whose local performers include G3 Three Troikas winner Fish River and Derby winner Dorset Noble) accounted for some truly exceptional athletes on the track, with those beaten by the champion including the likes of triple G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Goldikova, 2000 Guineas winner Makfi, Galileo’s triple G1 winner Rip Van Winkle,and subsequent star sire Siyouni.
He stands his first season at Highlands for a fee of R30 000.