Depending on your viewpoint, South Australian Derby Russian Camelot is the most exciting horse in Australia.
He quite probably is and while he still has to progress further if he is to reach the heights many are predicting, the northern hemisphere bred son of Camelot is already a Group 1 winner at just his fifth start.
The 120,000gns Tattersalls yearling is the fourth Group 1 winner for his sire with all four in different countries – Latrobe (Ireland), Wonderment (France), Athena (USA) and Russian Camelot.
A champion at two and three, Camelot won six of his 10 races, notably the Derby, Irish Derby, 2000 Guineas and the Racing Post Trophy.
Retired to stud in Ireland and Australia in 2014, Camelot currently has 27 stakes winners from 358 runners.
By Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells) out of a mare bred on a Mr Prospector / Danehill cross, Camelot also carries a duplication of Zeddaan (Grey Sovereign).
Camelot is also inbred to the three-quarter brothers Sadler’s Wells and Fairy King. This pattern is seen in six Gr1 winners including Red Rocks (Galileo), Happy Clapper (Teofilo) and Recoletos (Whipper).
Interestingly from his 78 live foals in his season in Australia, Camelot has just one stakes winner – the New Zealand Gr2 winner Lord Arthur who is also inbred to the three-quarter brothers Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells.
Bred in partnership by Lynch Bages Ltd and Camas Park Stud, Russian Camelot is inbred 3×3 Sadler’s Wells and 5×4 Danzig. He the best of two winners left to date by Lady Babooshka (Cape Cross), an unraced three-quarter sister to Gr2 Jebel Hatta at Nad al Sheba winner Alkaadhem (Green Desert) and half-sister to Play Bouzouki (Halling), the dam of British Listed winning sprinter Zanetto (Medicean).
The granddam Balalaika (Sadler’s Wells) won the Listed Dahlia Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket and is a sister to Gr2 Prince Of Wales Stakes winner Stagecraft and half-sister to Gr3 winner Mullins Bay (Machiavellian).
Russian Camelot’s third-dam Bella Colora (Bellypha), winner of the Gr3 Lupe Stakes and Gr3 Waterford Candelabra Stakes and a half-sister to Gr1 Irish Oaks winner Colorspin (High Top), Gr1 Champion Stakes winner Cezanne (Ajdal) and Listed winner Rappa Tap Tap (Tap On Wood).
Colorspin threw Gr1 winners Opera House and Kayf Tara to matings with Sadler’s Wells and is the granddam of Gr1 winner Necklace (Darshaan)
This is the famous Meon Valley Stud family that descends from the Gr3 Lancashire Oaks and Gr3 Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Reprocolor (Jimmy Reppin), the fourth dam of Russian Camelot.