Cover image courtesy of the Victorian Racing Club
It’s been a few years since Pin Oak Stud’s Director of Farm Operations and Property Michael Hardy last set foot in Melbourne during a six-month stint as part of the Godolphin Flying Start Program. He lands back on Australian soil this week with an even more exciting prospect awaiting him; watching from the owner’s area as Parchment Party (USA) (Constitution {USA}) jumps from barrier three in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
“It’s my first time in Australia since the Flying Start,” Hardy said on Monday. The University of Limerick graduate followed the Flying Start with six years at the helm of Margaux Farm in Kentucky and three years at Goffs, where he ascended to the role of Head Of Sales. He joined the Pin Oak team in June 2024.
“It’s great to be back, even if it feels like we've brought weather from Ireland. We're not going to let the rain dampen our spirits.”
Michael Hardy | Image courtesy of Pin Oak Stud
Hardy, accompanied by Pin Oak’s trainer Joss Saville and assistant trainer Jo Robinson, have made the long trek from Kentucky to represent Pin Oak proprietors Jim and Dana Bernhard as the owners of the first American-trained horse to run in the Cup.
Making history
Since Vintage Crop (Ire) (Rousillon {USA}) in 1993, nine internationally-trained raiders have claimed the race that stops the nation, but none have ventured from the United States to attempt to do so. The 2025 edition features one fellow American-bred in last-start G2 Moonee Valley Cup winner Onesmoothoperator (USA) (Dialed In {USA}), but he arrives via the stable of Yorkshireman Brian Ellison.
American (USA) and Media Puzzle (USA) (Theatrical {Ire}) are the only two American-bred horses to win the Cup this century, but their respective trainers Alain de Royer Dupre and Dermot Weld were based in Europe.
It is trainer Bill Mott, and owners Pin Oak Stud, who dare take that first plunge from the States with Parchment Party, who arrives off the back of earning a Cup golden ticket in the G3 Belmont Gold Cup in July. The 5-year-old entire added a win in the Listed Birdstone Stakes in August before entering the first step of quarantine needed for a horse to get down under.
Parchment Party (USA) | Image courtesy of Pin Oak Stud
The Belmont Gold Cup is one of 10 ballot-exempt races for the Cup, and the only one in the States. The other race outside of Australia is the Ebor Handicap at York, which was awarded its ballot exempt status in 2023. A golden ticket was handed to the Belmont Gold Cup, traditionally run over the same distance as the Melbourne Cup, in 2024 - the connections of 2024 victor The Grey Wizard (USA) (Caravaggio {USA}) opted not to pursue the trip over.
Ethical Diamond (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) won the Ebor in 2025, but due to a screw used to repair a fracture, connections pursued a start at the Breeders’ Cup meeting instead. He was a dominant winner in the 2400-metre G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday, setting a new track record in the process.
For connections of Parchment Paper, the excitement of being the first to attempt the feat is palpable.
“It’s a huge credit to Racing Victoria for putting on a race in the States to get an American-trained horse here,” said Hardy. “Last year’s connections didn’t take the opportunity for whatever reason, but that's all right, it left us with the opportunity to make history.
“When you get an opportunity to take a horse to a race like the Melbourne Cup, you don't say no.” - Michael Hardy
“I don't think we'd be fooling anybody if we said this was goal number one at the start of the year. But, you know, horse racing is an ever-changing landscape. When you get an opportunity to take a horse to a race like the Melbourne Cup, you don't say no.”
The logistical puzzle
The most pressing logistical problem is that the United States has no quarantine facilities for horses going to Australia, which meant that Parchment Party had to travel to Newmarket in England for his mandatory pre-Australian flight quarantine.
“It’s a lot of travel for the horse,” Hardy said. “Going to Europe adds an additional leg in the horse’s journey, which I think would have been a bit of a barrier for horses in the past. But really, what got us going was when he won the golden ticket - ballot exemption from winning the Belmont Gold Cup. That really set the whole ball in motion.”
“What got us going was when he won the golden ticket - ballot exemption from winning the Belmont Gold Cup.” - Michael Hardy
Something Hardy is quite grateful for is Racing Victoria’s support and communication throughout the whole process, as well as feedback from Robinson, who has accompanied Parchment Party throughout the journey.
“They've (Racing Victoria) been very helpful throughout the whole process,” said Hardy. “We had a lot of questions and logistical challenges, and they've been really helpful at every turn to make sure the horse could get here in the best possible way and condition. And they have been the same with getting us here as well. A lot of credit has to go to them for putting on the event.
“Racing Victoria has been very communicative on what the next steps are with every stage of the process. It's always a little bit nerve-wracking when you're waiting on the result of a scan, because these horses, you know, they change all the time. We can have a healthy, happy horse, but you don’t always know when something is going to change.”
Having it outlined alongside the constant feedback from the principal racing authority has made the process relatively smooth.
“We knew ... all the hoops that we had to jump through, and we're just delighted that he's (Parchment Party) been able to jump through all of them so well.” - Michael Hardy
“We all knew of the steps going in, and we knew what the rules were of getting into the race and all the hoops that we had to jump through,” Hardy said. “And we're just delighted that he's been able to jump through all of them so well.”
A horse hitting his straps
A US$450,000 (AU$688,000) Keeneland yearling graduate when purchased by Dana Bernhard, Parchment Party was unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile.
“He had some good form in his 2-year-old year, but he just needed time to really mature after that,” Hardy said of the colt, who is four in his home country. “He didn't run much as a 3-year-old, he just ran a few times at the end of the year. With maturity, he's become a really good-looking, big, good-moving horse. Just a little bit of maturity under his belt has really helped him flourish this year, and so has stretching him out in distance.
“Just a little bit of maturity under his (Parchment Party's) belt has really helped him flourish this year, and so has stretching him out in distance.” - Michael Hardy
“That's one thing that we are really excited about is to see him run the two miles here at Melbourne, because he hasn't had the opportunity to do that yet. There's very few races run over two miles in the United States, and giving him the opportunity to run the distance is something we think he will relish. The turf, we are less confident about, but we really think the distance is more meaningful than the track.”
The Belmont Gold Cup is traditionally run over 3200 metres, but heavy rainfall ahead of Parchment Party’s edition saw the Grade 3 event moved to the dirt track and reduced to 2800 metres. Hitting the front with 800 metres left to run on the sloppy track, the entire punched home by eight and a half lengths, with a further 14 and a half lengths back to third.
“There was terrible weather, a storm came through so it was switched to the dirt, which is an option we have in the States,” Hardy said. “You can’t really hold that against him, especially when he won that race very impressively.”
John Velazquez, the colt’s partner from the Gold Cup, flies down to take the reins at Flemington on Tuesday, an association which Hardy expects to continue to be fruitful. The rider’s intimate race knowledge of Parchment Party will be an immense aid with a horse that Hardy calls “particular” in how he’s ridden.
John Velazquez | Image courtesy of Racing Fotos
“He doesn't like to be hurried and rushed into a race, he takes the time to get into stride,” said Hardy. “Another jockey might try to get him into the race too quickly and he might just throw his head up at that. So having a jockey that's ridden the horse before is important for us.
“He's (Velazquez) one of the best jockeys in the world. I think there's nobody that would argue with that.” - Michael Hardy
“He (Velazquez) also critically understands how to ride in these big fields. He's won the Kentucky Derby three times. He's one of the best jockeys in the world. I think there's nobody that would argue with that and to have him on Parchment Party in Melbourne, we think it's a huge, huge advantage.”
A world of opportunity
Connections have yet to discuss where Parchment Party will head next after the Cup, but Hardy sees the opportunity for more international competition if the entire handles the race well.
“We’re taking it one step at a time,” he said. “At the moment, the plan would be, he goes back to the States after this and then we can make a decision on where we're going to go next. Do we go back to the dirt? Do we campaign internationally? There’s lots of options if he tells us he wants to run the distance and wants to run at this level. There’s plenty of options internationally for him - in Europe, Japan, the Middle East.
“There’s lots of options if he (Parchment Party) tells us he wants to run the distance and wants to run at this level.” - Michael Hardy
“First and foremost, we would want to make sure the horse is healthy and in good condition to travel again, but he’s taken every step of this journey in his stride so far.”
If he can prove himself worthy, there could be a spot for Parchment Party to stand at stud in the future. An international Group 1 on his resume would certainly add to his allure.
Pin Oak has stood stallions in the past, the last of which was homebred Grade 1 producer Broken Vow (USA), who passed in 2022. The Bernhards took the reins of the Pin Oak operation the same year, after the passing of establishing owner Josephine Abercrombie, and it’s a market the operation could well return to with the right horse.
The late Broken Vow (USA)
“It's not something we would ever rule out,” Hardy said. “He’s a very, very well-bred horse. He’s out of a Tiznow mare by Constitution, and he has a lovely pedigree page. His dam is from an old Cavanaugh–WinStar family and she’s a full sister to a Dubai World Cup winner.”
Dam Life Well Lived (USA) (Tiznow {USA}), who was fourth at Grade 2 level, is also the dam of Grade 1 winner American Patriot (USA) and Well Humored (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}), the Listed-winning dam of dual Grade 1 winner Patch Adams (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), who retires to WinStar Farm for the 2026 breeding season. Also close in the family, via one of Life Well Lived’s half-sisters, is dual Grade 1-winning stallion Cyberknife (USA).
If Parchment Party can add that top flight win to his record, he’s well set for a career in the breeding barn.
“He just has to earn his place there,” said Hardy.
All things to consider later - at the earliest, after 2pm AEST on Tuesday, when the gates fly back on Australia’s flagship race.
“I will probably be able to hear them (the owners) from here if we're (Parchment Paper) in the lead coming down the home straight!” - Michael Hardy
“The Bernards have planned to be here and unfortunately they were not able to make it down,” Hardy said of the colt’s owners. “I think there's going to be a midnight watch party at home. I will probably be able to hear them from here if we're in the lead coming down the home straight!”
