Cup winner joins O'Brien with an eye on Autumn

Danny O’Brien was a keen observer as English stayer Caravan Rolls On made a one act affair of today’s Sandown Cup at Caulfield.

O’Brien will take over the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Caravan Rolls On, a six-year-old raced by Sheikh Fahad al Thani and his family’s Qatar Bloodstock.

This win giving owner Sheik Fahad’s Qatar Bloodstock a second feature victory this Spring, to add to their earlier Mackinnon Stakes triumph with the Andrew Balding-trained Side Glance.

Sheik Fahad also owns Dunaden, who has won him a Geelong, Melbourne and Caulfield Cup over the past few springs.

Qatar Bloodstock representative Geoffrey Faber said Caravan Rolls On would now remain in Australia where he will be transferred to trainer Danny O’Brien.

“He’ll now go for a spell at Danny's Barwon Heads property and hopefully he’ll get some nice dry ground in the autumn,” Fabre said.

“The plan will hopefully be the Sydney Cup. He’s a genuine two-miler that loves fast ground.

“We (Qatar Bloodstock) have got plenty of horse’s here (Australia). We’ve got 17 broodmares at stud this year, we’ve got 14 foals on the ground, we’ve got eight yearlings in training and we’ve got 15 horses in training at the moment. It’s been a huge investment since Dunaden won the (2012) Caulfield Cup.

“He (Sheik Fahad) is a great supporter of racing worldwide, but he absolutely loves Australia.”

After running a luckless third in a 2800-metre race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup, Caravan Rolls On always travelled like the winner.

Driven forward in the early stages by jockey Craig Williams, Caravan Rolls On ($2.25F) then settled perfectly in fifth position on the rail.

After working his way into the clear on the home turn, Caravan Rolls On strode up to the leaders at the top of the straight before outstaying his rivals in the run to the post and recording a 1.8 length victory over Like A Carousel ($12), with Crafty Cruiser ($16) a length further back in third.

Caravan Rolls On’s success was the second international triumph in a row in the Sandown Cup following the win of Ibicenco in 2012.

Story courtesy of Racing Newtwork and Racing Victoria

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