The G3 Darley Maribyrnong Plate is the opening race on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington on Tuesday. The 1000-metre race worth $200,000 is limited to the juveniles and will see a field of eight take their place.
The Maribyrnong Plate is nearly as old as the Melbourne Cup, with 10 years between the races. The Melbourne Cup was famously first run in 1861 and won by the William Tell (GB) stallion Archer, who would return and retake the Cup in 1862. The inaugural Maribyrnong Plate was won by Argus Scandal, who also won the All Aged S. in the same year.
In 1875, the Maribyrnong Plate was won by Newminster; retired to stud, he sired the 1896 Melbourne Cup victor Newhaven, who also emulated his sire by winning the Maribyrnong Plate.
Throughout the years, there have been many a good galloper add their name to the Maribyrnong Plate honour roll: the grand Heroic, Mollison (Seremond {GB}), a conqueror of Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}) and the gusty Fine And Dandy (Star Kingdom {Ire}).
Heroic, winner of the Maribyrnong Plate in 1923 | Image courtesy of Kings Of The Turf
The late '60s saw three outstanding and influential stallions prevail, starting with Biscay in 1967 and followed by the Champions Vain and Baguette.
The modern era has seen the successful stallions Canny Lad, Testa Rossa and Bel Esprit win the Maribyrnong Plate.
Blue Stratum showing all the right signs
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Blue Stratum (Blue Point {Ire}) has been all the rage in Tuesday’s Maribyrnong Plate.
The good-looking son of Blue Point (Ire), if victorious, will provide Darley’s first-season sire his first winner in the Southern Hemisphere.
If Blue Stratum is successful, it will be a continuation of a super-weekend for the son of Shamardal (USA), who recently sired his second Group 1 winner when Big Evs (Ire) took out last Friday’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
Blue Point (Ire) | Standing at Darley
Bred by Yulong, Blue Stratum is the fifth foal from the Stratum mare Tawteen, a victress of seven races, including the Listed William Crockett S.
Tawteen was placed in three Group 3 events and is closely related to the Listed Mitchell McKenzie S. winner, Well Sprung (Star Witness).
The colt was a $130,000 purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing, First Light Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) when offered by Yulong Stud at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Blue Stratum as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The McEvoys know what it takes to win a Maribyrnong Plate, with Tony McEvoy training two winners in the last 10 years courtesy of Run Naan (Makfi {GB}) in 2017 and in 2016 with Aspect (Pluck {USA}).
Calvin McEvoy caught up with The Thoroughbred Report to discuss his thoughts on Blue Stratum, “Blue Stratum has done everything very well. His jump-outs have been good, but obviously, they have been under no pressure and over a shorter trip than the 1000 on Tuesday.
“I was really keen to have seen Blue Stratum around Moonee Valley (in the R. Listed Inglis Banner) when we drew three. I felt the 1000 metres around The Valley would have suited the horse down to the ground, but unfortunately, we didn’t get a run.
Calvin and Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“So, I think 1000 metres down the straight at Flemington is a very different scenario, and Blue Stratum hasn’t had any experience down the straight,” McEvoy said.
“I was actually surprised to see him come up favourite, especially with the Godolphin horse (Admitted) winning impressively at Bendigo.
“But Blue Stratum is quite professional, very fast, and if he manages to take it all in tomorrow (Tuesday) and do everything right, I’m sure he will run an excellent race.”
“Blue Stratum is quite professional, very fast, and if he manages to take it all in tomorrow (Tuesday) and do everything right, I’m sure he will run an excellent race.” - Calvin McEvoy
Commenting on the Blue Point progeny, McEvoy explained he feels everybody is still learning about them, “We have a couple of Blue Points in the stable, and they have shown us to be very sharp, and they’re all quite early the ones I’ve dealt with.
“Blue Point has had quite a few horses trial very well, and probably a few of them have gone to the races and haven’t produced their best for whatever reasons.
“But Blue Stratum is built like an early-running 2-year-old and he seems fast, so it’s very exciting to have him there (Flemington).”
“Blue Stratum is built like an early-running 2-year-old and he seems fast, so it’s very exciting to have him there (Flemington).” - Calvin McEvoy
The McEvoy stable will also be represented by Dublin Down, a first-crop son of Vinery’s Exceedance.
Odinson to represent Night Of Thunder
Another Darley-based sire looking to get in on the action is Night Of Thunder (Ire). The son of Dubawi (Ire) has not shuttled to Australia since 2016 but will be represented by the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Odinson.
Night Of Thunder has sired 40 stakes winners, including the G1 Queensland Derby victor Kukeracha, while in the Northern Hemisphere, he has been represented by the likes of the brilliant Highfield Princess (Fr).
Odinson as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Odinson is from the Due Diligence (USA) mare Good Vibes (GB). She won three races, including the G3 Cornwallis S. and the Listed Marygate S.
Good Vibes was a 390,000gns (AU$779,600) purchase by David Redvers Bloodstock at the 2019 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. She is related to the G3 Ballyogan S. victress Age Of Chivalry (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, Odinson was a $320,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
