Muir became the 81st stakes winner for Coolmore Stud champion Galileo in the G2 Adelaide Cup on Monday.
Muir (5g Galileo – Belle Allemande by Royal Academy) was bred by Howard Barton Stud in Britain and was a 310,000gns Tattersalls yearling purchase for Coolmore boss John Magnier in October 2007. He won races under the name Johann Zoffany at Naas, Leopardstown and the Curragh before changing hands again last year.
Irish-bred Muir is one of several horses imported from Europe by Lloyd Williams with an eye to competing in Australia’s major staying events. Another was Irish Derby placegetter Mourayan (Alhaarth) who was runner-up in last year’s G1 Metropolitan at Randwick.
“We’ll see how he pulls up before looking at the Sydney Cup,” Nick Williams said at Morphettville. “We’ve put so much effort into these horses and Muir has had a pretty good preparation.”
Team Williams came close to winning a Group 1 with Linton at Flemington on Saturday. The NZ bred Galileo gelding was runner-up to Shocking in the Australian Cup.
Muir’s dam Belle Allemande is a winning half-sister to German 1000 Guineas winner Que Belle. She has a two-year-old brother to Muir and a yearling colt by Cape Cross.