Mugatoo sees off Russian Camelot in Irish-bred finish to All-Star Mile

Irish-bred runners dominated the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley on Saturday with Mugatoo narrowly denying Russian Camelot in a pulsating finish.

Mugatoo, a gelded son of Henrythenavigator, was bred by Frau Bscher and was a €17,000 purchase as a foal from Goffs November when selling to Herbertstown House Stud from Newtown Stud.

Ronan and Marcella Burns of Herbertstown House bought him back at Book 2 of Tattersalls October Yearling Sale the following year and raced him with David Simcock.

The six-year-old, who was a two-time winner for Simcock, transferred to Kris Lees and is now owned by Australia Bloodstock and Power Thoroughbreds. He has won two Group 3 contests and was also a narrow second to Mirage Dancer in the Group 1 Metropolitan at Randwick last October.

A half-brother to the stakes-winning Elik, who was also third to Riposte in the Ribblesdale Stakes, the gelding has won over £1,700,000 in prize-money after landing the valuable $5 million mile contest, for which the runners are chosen through a vote by fans.

Runner-up Russian Camelot is another familiar name, having been snapped up for 120,000gns at Book 1 of Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Jeremy Brummitt. He was consigned by Camas Park Stud.

Trained by Danny O'Brien, the son of Camelot created history when becoming the first Northern Hemisphere-bred winner of a Derby in Australia when winning the Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville last May.

The four-year-old also landed the Underwood Stakes last year and was third to Sir Dragonet in the Cox Plate in October.

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