Tacit Agreement Bought for Melbourne Cup

(edited release)
American distance specialist Tacit Agreement, a winner of three straight stakes races at Calder in his last three starts by more than 31 combined lengths, has been purchased privately and will ship to Australia to prepare for the 2007 US$4.2 million Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) on Nov. 6.

Standing over 17 hands, the strapping 6-year-old gelded son of Unbridled out of graded stakes performer Don’t Read My Lips hails from the deep female turf family of Champion U.S. Grass Horse Sunshine Forever. His half-siblings Silver Charades and Hoststufanthensome are both graded stakes turf winners this year.

Since winning America’s only two-mile race last year, the $250,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Marathon Handicap by seven lengths to pass the Melbourne Cup balloting clause, Tacit Agreement has posted four more impressive stakes wins at the Fair Grounds and Calder. That includes his last three by margins of 10 1/2 lengths on May 5, 15 lengths on May 19, and 6 1/2 lengths on June 9.

Trained by Marty Wolfson, Tacit Agreement was purchased privately by an international syndicate headed by Jon Haseler, the owner of Australian stud farm Glenlogan Park, U.S.-based Carondelet Farm, and top Melbourne-based trainer Danny O’Brien.

The deal was brokered by David Bernsen of Carondelet Farm with the assistance of John Stuart of Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, and Australian bloodstock agent Robert Roulston, who commented, “It is obvious that Tacit Agreement has come very, very good. In fact, he is almost freakishly good who runs like a jet airplane taking off – he just picks up momentum the farther they go. He is a pure stayer and with limited staying race opportunities in America. Here in Australia he will be able to run for a couple of years for big money with the first target being the Melbourne Cup.

“The horse will come to Australia aboard the same plane that brings Anamato back after her run in the American Oaks at Hollywood Park," Roulston continued. "He will clear quarantine and be in Danny O’Brien’s barn at Flemington on August 17 and should have a couple of prep races leading into the Melbourne Cup.”

Roulston indicated that while Tacit Agreement will run in the Glenlogan Park silks. The group plans to bring in several other partners into the syndicate from both Australia and the U.S.