Buccellati - Noonan's Foreign Jewel

The Age

Wednesday October 29, 2008

Michael Sharkie

A NORTHERN hemisphere experiment is proving successful for Tony Noonan (right) and long-time client Peter McMahon with Buccellati, a horse they purchased with a view to running in next year's Melbourne Cup, passing the first ballot clause for the race over the weekend.

McMahon purchased Buccellati and three other horses at the Tattersalls sale in England two years ago, after much leg-work from Noonan and respected English trainer Andrew Balding at the sales.

Now in his third preparation with Balding, Buccellati is showing significant staying promise and has won seven of his 18-starts, including his past three races. While the early wins were welcomed, last Saturday's group 3 St Simon Stakes (2400metres) at Newbury could be the four-year-old's most important victory.

Starting at 15-2 third favourite on Saturday night, Buccellati comfortably defeated a small but talented field, which included group1 winner Ask and Blue Monday, who ran fourth in last year's Caulfield Cup before finishing seventh behind Efficient in the Melbourne Cup.

Kept in Britain to further his development this season, it would seem very likely that Buccellati would venture to Australia for a crack at next year's Cup now that he's qualified for the race. -- MICHAEL SHARKIE

© 2008 The Age

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