French Stayer Ready To Go To Waugh

The formula for winning a Melbourne Cup has become pretty clear over the last two years, buy something French.

That’s the strategy Kim Waugh is employing anyway as she prepares for the arrival of Sheniyan at her Wyong stables.

The French currently have a stranglehold on the race that stops the nation with Americain winning in fine style in 2010 and Dunaden getting the job done this year.

That’s not even counting the string of lead up events they’ve picked up or the fact Americain came from an impossible position to finish fourth in 2011.

Either way owners and trainers have taken notice and Aussie interest is doing wonders for the bottom lines of breeders over in Europe.

Waugh’s acquisition comes from the Aga khan, bought by her stable client Rob Roulston.

A son of Sadler’s Wells the horse has won two from five starts under the training of Alain de Royer-Dupre at Chantilly.

It’s certainly a fine resume and Waugh is expecting big things from him.

“Sheniyan’s former trainer told us this horse has the ability to win good races here,” she said.

“He’s been in quarantine and put on 30kg which is a really encouraging. He will come to our stables next week and we are looking to get him ready for the autumn. He’s an exciting young stayer.”

Waugh could certainly do with some good fortune in 2012 after this year finished on a sour note.

Her spring was virtually ruined after a virus came through her stables and affected 14 of the 18 horses in work.

Her crack youngster Valdhez was struck down with a separate infection, that illness almost proving fatal.

He was to be the star of her spring with a dominant display in two of his four career starts to date.

“He nearly died,” she said.

“But he has turned the corner now and when I checked on him last week, the horse looked fantastic, he’s back to his ‘fighting’ weight of 540kg.

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