The first international runner in the $13 million Everest has had a trouble-free trip from Ireland to Sydney and settled in at the Canterbury quarantine centre.
July Cup winner U S Navy Flag, who will represent Coolmore in The Everest on October 13 and travelling companion Somerset Maugham stretched their legs at the track on Monday morning.
Aidan O’Brien’s foreman Andrew Murphy said U S Navy Flag was a seasoned traveller and took the long plane flight in his stride.
“He has done a lot of travelling before he started his journey here and he travelled great,” Murphy said.
“He’s a very laid-back, docile horse with a great attitude and that’s why he travels so well.
“He’s very bright and alert and that’s what you love to see.’
“It’s a long way to come so you’re not going to bring a horse you don’t think is going to run well.
“Each day we will do a little bit more with him.
“We’ll give Aidan a daily report. He decides all these things, even though he is in Ireland.”
U S Navy Flag was a dual Group One winner at two and was tried at longer distances before being brought back to sprints.
Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier said they were under no illusions how tough the 1200m-race would be.
“Hopefully we have the right horse but there’s a lot of great sprinters in Australia so we know we have our work cut out,” he said.
Coolmore planned to bring Caravaggio to The Everest last year but that didn’t work out and he is now in Australia in his capacity as a first-season stallion.
U S Navy Flag is a $17 chance with TAB.com.au in The Everest with Trapeze Artist ($5) shading Redzel ($6) for favouritism with the pair to clash in Saturday’s Premiere Stakes at Randwick.
Stable jockey Ryan Moore will come to Australia to ride U S Navy Flag.
