Caulfield Guineas winner Long John leads the exodus of Darley horses bound for the northern hemisphere.

Long John (3g Street Cry – Hosiery by Night Shift) has won 5 of his 8 starts headed by victories in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, LR Anzac Day Stakes and LR Henry Bucks Stakes.  He departs these shores after an unplaced run in the G1 Cox Plate.

Next week’s flight will also include G2 WA Guineas winner Academus (Lonhro), G3 Newcastle Newmarket winner Bello (Commands), LR Canberra Guineas winner Complicate (Commands) and G2 Sandown Guineas winner Paximadia (Commands).

Darley’s leading three year-olds Complacent (Authorized) and Guelph (Exceed And Excel) will stay in Australia for Group 1 autumn campaigns.

The Blue Army has so far failed to deploy the right horses for overseas combat and the pressure is on Sheikh Mohammed’s Australian outpost to deliver some fire-power from Down Under.

The last contingent out of Australia was led by G1 Flemington winner Mental (Lonhro).  He added a Dubai Group 3 in February but wasn’t seen in England this year.

Pied A Terre (Ad Valorem) was unplaced twice in Dubai and managed a second at Doncaster in four English starts.  Free Wheeling (Ad Valorem) ran two placings in Dubai but failed to fire in three English outings.

Induna (Elusive Quality) and Adroitly (Octagonal) were unplaced in a total of five Dubai starts.

Two years ago, Darley sent its Group 1 winning colts Sepoy and Helmet overseas but they failed to acclimatize.  Sepoy was beaten a total of 40 lengths in two starts at Meydan and Newmarket.  Ironically, Helmet also trailed in 24 lengths at Meydan and 16 lengths behind Frankel at Royal Ascot.

Soul (Commands) fared better with a Meydan victory followed by a Group 3 at Newbury in 2012.  He failed in four starts in England this year.

Retrieve (Rahy) won a Listed event at Newmarket and was runner-up to Novellist in the G1 Italian Gran Premio Del Jockey Club.

– Karl Patterson