Sanagas, whose superior staying ability led to victories this fall in the
Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes over the Keeneland Polytrack and the Grade 1 Hollywood
Turf Cup on the grass, has been acquired by BC3 Thoroughbreds and will be set
for a Cups campaign in 2012, with the ultimate goal the Group 1 Melbourne Cup
next November. Prominent American owner/breeder David Bernsen has also secured a
minority interest.
“BC3 is trying to establish some horses that are stayers and get them to
races like the Melbourne Cup,” BC3 co-founder John Brocklebank told the TDN. “We
thought this might be an easier way to put horses into the program.
“This horse looks like he could handle races like that in Australia. We’re
very excited to have the horse, and he sure looked like a beast in the Hollywood
Turf Cup.”
Sanagas will remain in California with new trainer Peter Miller for a winter
campaign to include the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes February 11, the Grade 2 San
Luis Rey Stakes March 18 and the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap April 22.
He will enter quarantine thereafter in preparation for his transfer to
Australia.
Standing a reported 17 hands, Sanagas won four of his five starts in his
native Germany before shifting to the United States. Trained by Graham Motion,
the dark bay gelding was victorious in Saratoga’s John’s Call Stakes over 13
furlongs in addition to his two late-season successes.
His performance in the Turf Cup has already qualified Sanagas for the 2012
Group 1 Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup, according to Racing Victoria Chief
Handicapper Greg Carpenter, and has already been assigned a weight that
guarantees him a spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field.
Added BC3 CEO Bill Vlahos, “We are canvassing the world for the best stayers,
and in Sanagas we certainly got what not only we believe, but in the opinion of
many observers, the best stayer in North America.”
BC3, which employs the services of trainers Mick Price, David Hayes, Chris
Waller in Sydney, has been represented by 55 winners in Australia in 2011.