Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich heading to Australia

Rostropovich, last year's Irish Derby runner-up and a Group 2-winning juvenile, has been purchased by a syndicate to continue his career in Australia.

The four-year-old, who was trained by Aidan O'Brien to finish fifth in the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate last year, will be based with David Hayes, but has been placed under quarantine in New Zealand following his trip to Hong Kong in December.

"He raced in Hong Kong so it's not straightforward to get him back to Australia," Hayes said to racing.com. "He was only a three-year-old [in European time] and doing that, his form is right up there."

The son of Frankel was an easy winner of the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester in May as well as filling the runner-up spot behind Old Persian in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. A Group 3 victory at Leopardstown in September was followed by a trip to Australia.

The colt, who is a half-brother to leading sire Zoffany, was last seen finishing seventh in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.

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