Prominent owner Lloyd Williams (Image: Racing Photos)
Sherlock Holmes will make his Australian debut at Moonee Valley on Saturday, yet another Lloyd Williams-owned, Robert Hickmott-trained import to keep an eye, or a looking glass, on.
Hickmott had six nominees for the Benchmark 78 over 2040m, including two untried as yet in Australia including Goodwill and Sherlock Holmes - and the latter will get his chance on the track with Ben Melham in the saddle.
Sherlock Holmes' half-brother Drosselmeyer (out of Golden Ballet) has flown the family flag high, a two-time Group 1 winner - claiming the 2010 Belmont Stakes, and 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic, in the USA.
Williams, and trainer Hickmott, plotted a successful path to Melbourne Cup glory in 2016 for Almandin, who kicked off in a nondescript winter handicap at the Valley in June last year, finishing sixth.
It is this fact which makes any Hickmott runner all the more interesting. Macedon Lodge also has Carlo Bugatti in the race.
Donnacha O'Brien rode Sherlock Holmes to his most recent win in July 2015, at Bellestown in Ireland, over 2816m.
"He was always just doing enough. He's a big staying horse and stays all day," O'Brien told the Irish Independent at the time.
"He's a grand big horse and you never know, in a few years, he could be an Ascot Gold Cup horse."
Sherlock Holmes is by Galileo, along with Sir Prospector, Crocodile Rock (won Sandown Wednesday) and Granddukeoftuscany - who were all nominated for Saturday - while Goodwill and Carlo Bugatti are sired by Montjeu, who produced Almandin.