Green Moon Wins Melbourne Cup – The A.P. Answer Connection

A.P. Answer’s dam-line continues International success with Green Moon who swept home to take the epic 3200m Emirates Melbourne Cup Gr 1. Green Moon is by Montjeu out of Green Tune mare Green Nune. Green Tune is out of Soundings, the second dam of A.P. Answer.

Green Tune has had major success in both hemispheres in less than a week – with his daughter Zagora winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Gr. I) at Santa Anita Park on 2 November.

Green Moon won by over a length at Flemington on Turf in good going from Fiorente (by Monsun) and Jakkalberry (by Storming Home). Green Moon’s previous wins this year include the Gr 1 Turnbull Stakes and Gr 2 Blamey Stakes.

Green Moon, who started at $20, had a clear margin on the line over Gai Waterhouse’s import Fiorente ($31) with third place being filly by another imported horse Jakkalberry ($81), who is trained by the Italian Marco Botti.

Prebble said moments after pulling up on the import that Williams bought from England specifically for the Melbourne Cup, that it had been “my life dream to do it” and paid tribute to Williams for engaging him for the mount after Green Moon had run so poorly just 10 days ago in the Cox Plate.

“He was never going to get beat,” Prebble said. “He got a severe check about 250 metres after the start but eventually got into a rhythm and then I put it to him on straightening.”

The winner was trained by former AFL footballer Robert Hickmott, who played a number of games for Melbourne and has been the head trainer at Williams’ Mt Macedon training property for the past four years.

Green Tune died prematurely at stud in 2011.

Green Tune’s dam is Soundings, the second dam of A.P. Answer (whose dam was Europe’s Champion Filly, Pas de Reponse by Danzig). Soundings is by Mr Prospector out of Ocean’s Answer by Northern Answer, her dam a half-sister to sire Storm Bird.

Should you wish to contact Clifton Stud, please phone 033 267 7407 or alternatively email blyth@cliftonstud.co.za