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Three Group 1 winners are among five horses from the Northern Hemisphere who arrived in Sydney over the weekend to target races across the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
The arrival of international horses comes as Obamburamai – winner of the 2023 Golden Eagle – also prepares to head to Sydney in a fortnight before aiming for the $4 million The Star Doncaster Mile during The Star Championships at Royal Randwick.
Obamburamai is currently an $8 second favourite on TAB to be the first Japanese horse to win the time-honoured race.
Post Impressionist for leading UK trainer William Haggas is among the contingent at the Canterbury Park Quarantine Centre as it prepares for the Group 1 $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup.
The five-year-old gelding is currently an $8 equal favourite for the 3200m Group 1 feature.
Four other horses will also spend two weeks in quarantine before heading to local stables to continue their racing careers in Sydney and Australia.
Three of the horses Via Sistina (Chris Waller), Place Du Carrousel (Anthony & Sam Freedman) and Poptronic (Gai Waterhouse a& Adrian Bott) are all Group 1 winners.
Via Sistina is at $11 for the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on 13 April and at $15 in The Star Doncaster Mile.
Five-year-old mares Poptronic and Place Du Carrousel both hold nominations in four Group 1 The Star Championships races – the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, $4 million The Star Doncaster Mile, $2 million Schweppes Sydney Cup and $1 million Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering, James Ross said the arrivals featured the most accomplished group of horses to compete in a Sydney Autumn Carnival.
"We are pleased to see such depth with three Group One winners amongst this shipment and this will be complemented by Golden Eagle winner Obamburamai expected to arrive mid-March," Mr Ross said.
