Irish Bred Horses Rule Melbourne Cup

 Irish Dominate Melbourne Cup 2012

• Irish-bred horses were again dominant on the international stage at Australia's Melbourne Cup meeting. The first seven horses home in the big race - Green Moon, Fiorente, Jakkalberry, Kelinni, Mount Athos, Glencadam Gold and Mourayan - were all bred in the Emerald Isle.

• Bloodstock expert Joseph Burke said: "There were 10 Irish-bred horses in this year's Melbourne Cup field, an amazing feat which is put in perspective by the fact that the next country on the list was New Zealand with four representatives.

• It was a tremendous and unprecedented achievement for Irish-bred horses to fill the first seven places as the runners crossed the line, with another one in 10th, between them earning just under £4million, or 5million euros.

• "The winner is a son of Montjeu, that now-deceased champion stallion who stood at the world's leading stud farm, Coolmore Stud in Fethard, Co. Tipperary.

• "This result comes on the back of a tremendous year for Irish-bred horses, who had already registered victories at the very top level in some of the world's major racing nations such as Britain, Canada, the USA, Italy, France and Hong Kong.

• "Five of the six winners on Britain's Champions Day were the progeny of Irish mares, whilst Irish-breds also won five Group One races at Longchamp on Arc day, including the Arc itself.

• "Jim Bolger's Irish-bred Dawn Approach looks sure to be confirmed champion two-year-old following his Coventry Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes wins in the UK.

• "Ireland may only be a small country, but the Melbourne Cup result has reinforced the fact that Ireland is the world leader when it comes to producing the finest bloodstock."
  

_{Appeared on goracing.ie http://www.goracing.ie/HRI/ResourceCentre/RacingNews/news=N0142221352192419814A}