The winner of Group 1 and star entry Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) will have their first start in Australia and their first start of 2023 at the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley on March 18 after was awarded a spot in the wildcard race on Friday, Racing.com report. The 5-year-old horse joined trainer Mike Moroney’s stable in December, with the All-Star Mile always the target race for the horse’s Australian debut.
Alenquer, who was previously trained by William Haggis, has not started since finishing ninth in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on October 2.
“It wasn’t a hard decision for the wildcard panel to choose Alenquer as our first wildcard and he joins a team of 10 amazing horses, headed by Alligator Blood (Aus ) (All Too Hard {Aus}), was voted to the All-Star Mile by the public this week,” said RV, Racing CEO Matt Welsh Racing.com. “With 11 athletes competing now, our focus will be on the key races at Flemington and Randwick tomorrow before we release the remaining four wildcards early next week.”
In 2021 at the age of 3, Alenquer won the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. He finished third in the 2400 meters G1 Grand Prix de Paris and second in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at the end of the year. Last term, Adlerflug’s son won the G3 Winter Derby at Lingfield in February and the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh in May.
“He is a Group 1 winner in Ireland and has contested two Arc de Triomphe before. He has a lot of class,” Moroney said. “He has settled very well in Flemington since arriving from abroad and we are pleased with how he has prepared first for the stables. We’re excited to debut him at The Valley in two weeks. With just over a mile running, we think he’s going to be a serious player in The All-Star Mile.”
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This story was posted in Europe’s Top News and tagged Adler Flu (Ger), liqueur, All-Star Mile, G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Moonee Valley.
