Camelot Sires Exciting Saturday Stakes Double

The progressive Cairde Go Deo (3f Camelot - Elusive Galaxy, by Elusive City) produced a career-best performance to win the Listed Yeats Stakes by an impressive eight lengths on Saturday.

A taking winner of a Curragh maiden last season, the Ger Lyons-trained bay finished a promising third on her seasonal return last month and stepped up to a mile and five furlongs at Navan. She made most of the running under Colin Keane and drew clear from three furlongs out, going on to score in comfortable fashion.

Ger Lyons later earmarked the Group 3 Munster Oaks as the winner’s next target and added, “She's very straightforward and a gorgeous looking filly; a typical Camelot. She has a good temperament and [Irish Oaks winner] Even So (Camelot) had a great temperament.”

Owned by Mark Dobbin, Cairde Go Deo was bred by Haras du Logis Saint Germain.

Camelot enjoyed a perfect start to the weekend when Point Nepean (4c Camelot - Sea Goddess, by Galileo) captured the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington and, in turn, earned his place in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.

A debut winner when trained by Joseph O’Brien, the son of Camelot is now trained by Robert Hickmott and came into the race with a record of three wins from six starts. The bay had to overcome racing three wide for much of the way on Saturday and produced a challenge two and a half furlongs out under Alana Kelly, running on well to score by three parts of a length.

Representing connections, Nick Williams commented on Point Nepean’s Melbourne Cup hopes. “He’s got all the right traits. The horse he reminds me of a little bit is Almandin [2016 Cup winner]. Where he’s come from this preparation, the world’s his oyster.”

Point Nepean is owned by the Lloyd Williams Syndicate and was bred by Snowdrop Stud Company.