The Euphrates stamps Cups credentials

Former Aidan O’Brien-trained stayer The Euphrates (Frankel) announced himself as a serious spring Cups contender with an impressive all-the-way victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Taken from the ANZ Bloodstock News, 20th September 2026:

Having just his second start for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the six-year-old maintained a strong gallop under Tim Clark to defeat Juja Kibo by 0.9 lengths, with favourite Soul Of Spain another 0.7 lengths away in third. The Euphrates stopped the clock at 2min 0.48sec, narrowly outside the Randwick 2000-metre course record of 2min 0.30sec set by Hampton Court in 2014.

“To be honest, I would have been disappointed if he didn't win today – he's a very, very good horse,” Bott said. “The Metropolitan has always been the plan but we have been thinking further ahead. The big picture is the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup with him. He has two mile form in Europe and certainly stays the trip at a higher level, and he showed that today.”

The Euphrates won three of his 11 starts for O’Brien, including the Listed Marble City Stakes, and finished fourth behind star stayer Kyprios in the Gr.1 Irish St Leger before spending almost two years away from the races. He returned with a fourth in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes earlier this month. The Euphrates will now tackle The Gr.1 Metropolitan at Randwick on 2rd October before potentially heading to the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup. The son of Frankel has 52.5 kilograms in the Caulfield Cup and 54 kilograms in the Melbourne Cup, although he is liable for a penalty following Saturday’s success.