The Listed Ipswich Cup will have a European flavour to it this year when Frenchman Yves Sequin saddles up Kiwi stayer Arcenciel.
Sequin has a wealth of experience around the globe and has booked Chris Munce to partner the four-year-old in Saturday’s 2150-metre feature.
Munce, who was successful on Arcenciel at Caloundra last start, is a five-time winner of the Brisbane Cup but is chasing only his second Ipswich Cup after winning it in 1994 aboard the John Wallace-trained Oompala.
Sequin was worried Arcenciel’s rating would not be sufficient to make the Ipswich Cup field and was relieved when weights were released on Wednesday confirming the daughter of Black Minnaloushe would easily gain a start.
“I was worried she didn’t have a high enough rating to get into the Ipswich Cup but I’m delighted she’ll get a run now,” Sequin said.
“Chris (Munce) was very happy with her win last start and we’re confident she’ll run very well.
“It’s a big step up in class for her but she’s a promising mare.”
Sequin is confident Arcenciel will handle a middle distance even though the majority of her relatives are sprinters.
However, her half-brother Ace Alphabet did win up to 1800 metres in Singapore.
Sequin, 53, started his training career in 1988 in California where he worked for eight years then trained for another three years in Dubai.
He worked as an assistant for two years to French trainer Alan De Royer-Dupre, who prepared last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Americain, before moving to New Zealand where he’s been based for the past seven years.
Sequin has 15 horses in work at Cambridge and made his first trip to Australia this year when he brought a team of three with him for the winter carnival, including Arcenciel.
Arcenciel gave Sequin his maiden Australian victory in a 1600-metre Open at Caloundra on June 5 when the Kiwi mare won by five lengths after sitting off the pace.
“I’ve never been to Australia before and I love it,” Sequin said.
“Caloundra is a very nice place to train and I hope to be back again soon.
“I brought three horses over with me but this mare is the only one to win so far.”
Sequin’s biggest success in New Zealand was a Listed race win with Kildonan, who later raced as Classa when sold to Hong Kong, in the Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie in 2008.
“I’ve trained a few Listed winners in the United States and I ran third with Green Supreme in the Group One Levin Classic at Otaki (in 2009),” he said.
Sequin plans to stay on for the remainder of the winter carnival and will target next month’s Listed Caloundra Cup with Arcenciel if she runs well in the Ipswich Cup.
“I’m heading back home in mid-July and if Arcenciel can run in the first four in the Ipswich Cup I’ll run her again in the Caloundra Cup,” he said.
AAP TURF
