Mystery of Tiger Moth
O’brien import fits profile for success in just his fifth start
WERRIBEE’S quarantine station is traditionally a magnet for purists, horsemen and form students attempting to run the rule over the international Melbourne Cup contenders.
Most mornings are a leisurely affair as locals and highrollers mix casually in the grandstand as the raiders saunter on to the track, seemingly oblivious to daily assessment. Werribee’s honour roll is impressive which is why, until the pandemic stopped it, there has been such a steady flow of visitors to trackwork.
Since its opening in 2010, Americain, Dunaden, Protectionist, Rekindling and Cross Counter have all emerged from Werribee’s barns to lift the Melbourne Cup.
All of those wins, in their own way, are regarded as game-changers. With each running of the Cup, the profile of those most likely to win has evolved. Rekindling (2017) and Cross Counter (2018) triumphed at Flemington as northern hemisphere threeyear-olds.
That is now the preferred method of attack.
There is only one international in this year’s field with a similar profile – Tiger Moth.
Kerrin Mcevoy, who is chasing a fourth Cup success, partnered Cross Counter two years ago and sees parallels with Tiger Moth, who has had only four career starts.
“He’s probably got a similar profile to the others in that he’s lightly raced and obviously ran in some quality three-year-old races in the UK season just gone,” Mcevoy said.
“So you’d think that he’s shown just as much progress as those two horses (Rekindling and Cross Counter).”
Tiger Moth will need to be every bit as good as his looks. The bay son of Galileo has flourished at Werribee, towing
Caulfield Cup runner-up Anthony Van Dyck and Cox Plate second placegetter Armory around virtually every circuit.
Trained by Aidan O’brien, Tiger Moth will attempt to create modern history by winning the Cup at just his fifth start.
O’brien’s travelling foreman TJ Comerford believes inexperience will play no role.
“I’m not concerned at all about him not having a lot of races,” the Irishman said.
“It’s not an issue at all.”