Powerful O’Brien squad leaves for Melbourne

Aidan O’Brien’s three-pronged attack on Australia’s leading races stepped up a notch yesterday as Highland Reel, Bondi Beach and Kingfisher set off on the journey Down Under.

Bondi Beach and Kingfisher will run in the Melbourne Cup – where they will be O’Brien’s first runners in the ’race that stops a nation’ since 2008 – while Highland Reel bids to give Ballydoyle a second Cox Plate.

O’Brien said: “Our three horses for Melbourne departed from Shannon airport this morning.