Last year’s Melbourne Cup day ended in heartbreak for connections of the imported stayer Araldo.
After finishing seventh in the $6 million race, Araldo had to be euthanised after breaking his leg in a freak accident while returning to the mounting yard.
On Wednesday at Sandown, Araldo’s half-brother begins his Australian race career for some of Araldo’s owners and the same trainer Mike Moroney.
His name is Araldo Junior.
That name was chosen because Aldo, the name he raced under in Germany, was already taken here.
“In Germany you’ve got to name the German-breds starting with the first letter of the dam’s name,” Moroney said.
“We tossed around a few other names, and the one we ended up with was Araldo Junior.”
The five-year-old makes his Australian debut in Wednesday’s Bushnell Outdoor Products Handicap (1400m) having been bought from Germany not long before his late sibling’s death last year.
“It would be nice to think that he could fill his place, but he’s got a long way to go to do that.
“When we bought Araldo, he was already Group One-placed.”
Araldo Junior won three of his five starts in Germany, ranging from 2200m to 2800m.
“We’d been following him for a little while and once he showed good enough form we made an approach and bought him,” Moroney said.
“His form is pretty good albeit in lesser company, but he’s a lovely horse.
Moroney said Araldo was quite tall and athletic while Araldo Junior was quite strongly built.
“He’s probably shown a bit more speed. I hope he’s as good, but we’ll find that out,” he said.
While it’s yet to be seen what level he reaches, Moroney said the more he has done with the five-year-old the more he has improved.
Araldo Junior has been nominated for some of the big races his late sibling contested.
“We’re like everyone – we’re taking a ticket in the lottery and see where he ends up,” Moroney said.
