A dashing young European stayer named CALIBURN is coming to race in Australia in September.
That in itself is nothing new for us, because with our prizemoney being the best in the world, trainers and owners from all over Australia are buying Europeans to race here.
This one is a little different, however, for a couple of reasons.
He’s been bought by leviathan owner, the massively astute David Ellis from New Zealand – and this Caliburn (Camelot-Enchanted Evening) comes here having won just two restricted class races from 9 starts and will have to earn his way up the mountain of success to get into the bigger races.
But a fair few keen judges say he has staying talent enough to do that and boomed young trainer Jamie Richards will put the polish on him.
Here, however, is where story-tellers like me get really interested in this…story!
There is already an Australian version of Caliburn living, breathing, romping around paddocks and showing enormous racing talent too….and he’s also by Camelot!
The Aussie-bred one is the same age as well and the same colour. Caliburn (Aus) is (Camelot-Theatre Buff).
From just 5 starts to date he’s already won and been placed in Victoria. In fact, he bolted in just a couple of weeks back over a mile on a heavy track at Mutoa for his trainer Symon Wilde.
He looks very promising, maybe even as promising as his Irish born namesake, and is the younger brother of popular stakes horse ODEON!
So how do two horses, or better question: why do two horses by the merging superstar stallion Camelot, get the same name?
Well, Welsh folklore provides the answer.
Caliburn was the man who created if you like, the legendary sword of King Arthur called Excalibur.
He was a master blade smith and forged many unique and mighty swords. Before being a blade smith, he was a renown warrior.
Legend has it that he lived with his daughter in the woods ever since his wife died shortly after giving birth.
Back then remarrying was frowned upon.
Anyway, he was burned by the magician Merlin during their struggle for possession of the sword, that he had forged for King Arthur, and those burns were so bad he died.
When David and his wife Karyn bring their Irish Caliburn here, no doubt he will have a slight name change – probably be called Our Caliburn.
Which could well upset the syndicate who own the Aussie version as I’m sure each of them feel that their Caliburn is, well, ours.
Anyway, I hope their paths meet in a race.
Both seem rather gifted, look likely stayers and both, presumably, will square off against each other should it ever happen, look each other in the eye and race for….hmm, naming rights!
Neither Caliburn’s are in bookmakers Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup markets.
