Former Godolphin Group 1 winner Mamool (In The Wings – Genovefa, by Woodman) will have his first progeny to race in the southern hemisphere after Australian interests secured his best-performed son Lucas Cranach (Mamool – Lots Of Love, by Java Gold) to tackle the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Anthony Freedman will train Lucas Cranach once he arrives in Australia with five-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Lee Freedman to oversee the stallion’s pre-export preparation in England on behalf of his younger brother.
“When Anthony and I sat down and looked at his videos we quickly realised that this horse had that x-factor about him, he’s an exciting horse,” Lee Freedman said.
Lucas Cranach has won four of his seven starts with the four-year-old’s electrifying turn of foot the key feature of his win in the Group 2 Grosser Preis Von Lotto Hamburg (12f) on June 26.
“Obviously I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve seen on video and I’m thrilled to have him in my stable,” Anthony Freedman said.
“It’s very exciting for me personally to be given a horse like this so soon after taking over (Markdel). I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
Newcastle-based syndicators Australian Bloodstock have purchased Lucas Cranach from clients of the Sascha Smrczek stable. Australian Bloodstock also purchased Illustrious Blue from UK interests before the stallion finished midfield in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
Mamool won twice at Group 1 level in Germany for Godolphin. The sire stands at the Gestut Isarland stud in Germany, the birthplace of the former top European stallion Monsun.