Internationals settling in to Sydney

The Northern Hemisphere horses targeting riches at this year’s Autumn Carnival in Sydney have started arriving with five horses landing in Australia at the weekend.

Three Group 1 winners are included among the batch of horses who have taken up residence at the Canterbury Park Quarantine Centre, several of which will be transferred to Australian stables.

Via Sistina, who is bound for the Chris Waller stable, Anthony Freedman and A & S Freedman’s Place Du Carrousel and Poptronic, who will join Gai waterhouse and Adrian Bott , are all Group 1 winners who will continue their careers in Australia.

Via Sistina, last year’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner who also finished second in the Group 1 Champions Stakes at Ascot and was recently purchased by Australian interests for $5.5 million, holds entries for both the Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Poptronic, who won last year’s Champions Fillies & Mares Group 1 at Ascot, is nominated for those two events along with the Sydney Cup, as is French Group 1 winner Place Du Carrousel.

The Sydney Cup is the main aim for Post Impressionist, a William Haggas-trained son of Teofilo who comes to Australia a winner of three of his 13 starts, including a last-start win at Haydock last September.

“We are pleased to see such depth with three Group 1 winners amongst this shipment and this will be complemented by Golden Eagle winner Obamburumai expected to arrive mid-March,” Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering James Ross said.

Obamburumai will return to chase further Australian riches having stretched his record to four wins from six starts with victory in the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill last November.

The son of Discreet Cat is nominated for the April 6 Doncaster Mile, in which he will carry 55kg.