Ivanhowe Heads Down Under

Two months after Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) handed Germany a first Melbourne Cup trophy and made the switch from the yard of Andreas Woehler to that of Kris Lees in Newcastle, another of the country's top mile-and-a-half horses has been sold to Australian interests. Gestuet Schlenderhan's dual Group 1 winner Ivanhowe (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) has been bought for an undisclosed amount to join the powerful Flemington stable of Lee and Anthony Freedman. 
The lightly raced 5-year-old has had 10 starts to date, including five wins, four of which at group level. He opened his account at Cologne on his first outing as a 3-year-old, under the guidance of Wilhelm Giedt, and quickly doubled up in the G2 Oppenheim Union Rennen at the same course. Ivanhowe impressed on his return to the track 10 months later, posting a cozy win in the G2 Gerling Preis for Schlenderhan's newly appointed trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho. He registered his finest performance on his next outing, claiming the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in September. After a fruitless attempt in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, he won the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern. Invanhowe was far from disgraced when 6th home, and first of the European raiders, in the Japan Cup, his final start in the colours of Baron von Ullmann's Gestut Schlenderhan. 
Ivanhowe will now race for a group of owners including Johnny O'Neill, who notably raced G1 Caulfield Cup winner Mummify with the Freedman brothers. O'Neill told www.racingnetwork.com.au that one consideration could be to take Ivanhowe to the Singapore International Cup in May and then to Royal Ascot, before targeting the Cox Plate and Cup races. The Freedman stable has already sent out the winners of five Melbourne Cups, namely Tawrrific (1989), Subzero (1992), Doriemus (1995) and super champion Makybe Diva (2004 & 2005 – the mare was trained by David Hall when victorious in 2003). Ivanhowe is due to enter quarantine on Jan. 21 and is expected at the Werribee quarantine facility in early February.