North America’s hottest stayer Sanagas is the latest international performer to join Bart Cummings’ Melbourne Cup team.
Last year Illo, who like Sanagas is German-bred, was placed in the Moonee Valley Cup and 19th to Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup on a limited campaign in Australia with Cummings.
A winner of seven of his 10 starts, Sanagas scored a stunning 3-1/4 length victory in the Group One Hollywood Turf Cup (2400m) last November.
Victorian-based BC3 Thoroughbreds in association with prominent American owner-breeder David Bernsen have since bought him specifically to target the Melbourne Cup.
BC3 Thoroughbreds and its owners are also negotiating to secure another two serious Cup contenders.
Sanagas resumes the Saturday’s $150,000 San Marcos Stakes (2000m) at Santa Anita this weekend as part of a three race campaign under trainer Peter Miller before entering quarantine on April 23.
Cummings has already won 12 Melbourne Cups and Illo and his tough staying stablemate Precedence resume against Black Caviar in Saturday’s Group One C f Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.