Curragh Cup winner Camorra sold to Australia with Melbourne Cup the aim

This season's Group 2 Curragh Cup winner Camorra will be aimed at the Melbourne Cup following his purchase by Jarred Magnabosco's Best Bloodstock.

The son of Zoffany has been trained by Ger Lyons to win four of his 16 starts and Lyons will oversee Camorra's preparations for the Melbourne Cup and his next start, in the Irish St Leger on Irish Champions Weekend.

Camorra will then fly out to Australia, where he will immediately join the Lindsay Park stable of Ben and JD Hayes, who will prepare him for his Flemington assignment from the Werribee quarantine centre.

Magnabosco told ANZ Bloodstock News: “I first noticed him last year when he won a 2,400m (mile and a half) race carrying 61 kilograms and he led them up off a really strong tempo and he had no right to remain in contention with the outside trio who were starting to make their claim in the final furlong. He kept fighting right to the line, so I really liked his resilience

“When he resumed this prep, he ran a strong fifth behind Kyprios, who is now a multiple Group 1 winner, beating Stradivarius and that’s pretty strong form. He was very good first-up that day and he’s since gone on to win the Curragh Cup, which is the race that really locked him in for me.

“He is a horse who can also show a turn of foot, and you need a horse with a good turn of foot for the Melbourne Cup. He can be on-pace or he can take a sit and show that turn of foot that he’s got.”

Bob Scarborough bred the Group 2 winnerCredit: Getty Images

Camorra's Curragh Cup success was over Gear Up, who won the Group 1 Criterium de Saint Cloud at two, and the Joseph O'Brien trained son of Teofilo came out and won the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown last week.

David Spratt, Camorra’s existing owner, will retain 20 per cent of the horse, while Magnabosco has purchased 80 per cent on behalf of Best Bloodstock clients.

Magnabosco called on the assistance of respected European agent Johnny McKeever to inspect Camorra, a six-year-old gelding by southern hemisphere time, prior to the deal being finalised.

“I wouldn’t have bought this horse if I didn’t think he had a chance of winning the Melbourne Cup,” said the Best Bloodstock principal.

“With the 2021 quinella of Verry Elleegant and Incentivise both not going to the race this year, it presents a really good opportunity for anyone who wants to have a crack.

“Those two horses were standouts last year and I think it’s a really open year this year because we’ve got those two stars out of the race. We’ve bought the horse to win and hopefully that’s what we can do."

Camorra already had strong Australian connections as he was bred by former Moonee Valley chairman Bob Scarborough, breeder of European Group 1 winners and half-brothers St Mark's Basilica and Magna Grecia.

He is out of Mauralakana, a daughter of Muhtathir, who won the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes carrying Scarborough's silks. Camorra was sold as a yearling at Book 1 by Norelands Stud, where Scarborough boards his mares, to Gaelic Bloodstock for 50,000gns.

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