Talent drain from Europe continues with 100-plus rated trio off to Australia

The exodus from Europe to faraway foreign fields continues with OTI Racing having acquired three new horses from France, all with an official rating of more than 100.

Either through the sales ring or private acquisitions, the export market from Europe is particularly buoyant right now, and while there are misgivings about the talent drain, especially from Britain, where prize-money is relatively low, there is no doubting the opportunities to trade and reinvest that gives owners.

Green Fly, a three-year-old son of Frankel rated 101, and Baby Rider, a four-year-old son of Gleneagles with a mark of 108, will soon join Timour, another four-year-old by Gleneagles and rated 101, in Australia.

Timour, who was trained by Andre Fabre, was acquired by OTI last August and was third behind Bubble Gift in the Group 2 Prix Niel in September, with Baby Rider the runner-up.

He was last seen finishing fifth in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot and will join the Chris Waller stable in Sydney, where the Group 1 Sydney Cup will be his first major target.

Timour is just the latest runner from Royal Ascot 2022 whose career will continue overseas, following the news that Britannia Stakes winner Thesis has been sold to Hong Kong.

The Group 2 Prix Greffulhe winner Baby Rider, who was with Pascal Bary, will also head to Sydney, where he will be trained by part-owner Bjorn Baker. He will be aimed at the Rosehill Gold Cup or the Villiers Stakes.

Green Fly, who was trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, will go to part-owners Anthony and Sam Freedman's Mornington base in Victoria.

The dual winner and Listed-placed colt will either have a short prep for the spring, which could include the A$10 million (£5.7m/€6.7m) Golden Eagle, or instead be given the chance to acclimatise.

"All horses arrive in Australia with a rating of over 100, which will hopefully see them competitive in some of the bigger races this spring and beyond," said OTI Racing on their website. "We look forward to seeing all three horses making their debut on Australian ground."

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