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Almandin
Almandin
	Racing silks of Almandin
Sire	Monsun
Grandsire	Königsstuhl
Dam	Anatola
Damsire	Tiger Hill
Sex	Gelding
Foaled	27 March 2010
Country	Germany
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Gestüt Schlenderhan [de]
Owner	NC, LJ & SJ Williams, BN Singer, P Mehrten, AL & BA Green, JA Ingham, V Sammartino, MS Gudinski
Trainer	Wilhelm Giedt; Jean-Pierre Carvalho; Robert Hickmott; Liam Howley
Record	20: 7-6-1
Earnings	$5,303,858
Major wins
	G. P. der Badischen Unternehmen (2014); Harry White Classic (2016); The Bart Cummings (2016); Melbourne Cup (2016); Tancred Stakes (2018)
	Last updated on 31 March 2018

Almandin (foaled 27 March 2010) is a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Germany and trained in Germany and Australia.

He was the winner of the 2016 Melbourne Cup, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and trained by Robert Hickmott.

Background

Almandin is a bay gelding bred in Germany by Gestüt Schlenderhan [de].^[2] He was sired by Monsun, who also sired the 2013 Melbourne Cup winner, Fiorente, and the 2014 Melbourne Cup winner, Protectionist.^[3] Almandin's dam Anatola was a half-sister to the German Oaks winner Amarette.^[4]

Racing career

In his first two seasons, Almandin was trained in Europe by Wilhelm Giedt and then Jean-Pierre Carvalho and raced in France and Germany. On 1 June 2014 he recorded his biggest victory in Europe when he won the Group Two Grosser Preis der Badischen Unternehmen over 2000 metres, beating Protectionist by three quarters of a length.^[5] He then had a lengthy spell due to an issue with a tendon.^[6]

In 2016, Almandin began racing in Australia, in the colours of Lloyd Williams and trained by Robert Hickmott. Williams syndicated the gelding with music promoter Michael Gudinski, Sydney businessman and thoroughbred owner John Ingham, Quiksilver founder Alan Green, Rip Curl co-founder Brian Singer and construction industry figures Vin Sammartino and Phil Mehrten.^[6]

In his first Australian run, over 1600 metres in June 2016, Almandin finished sixth; he then recorded two further unplaced finishes.^[6] On 24 September 2016, he won the Listed Harry White Classic over 2400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse beating his stablemate Assign by two lengths.^[7] Eight days later, he was moved up in class and distance for the Group 3 Bart Cummings over 2500 metres at Flemington. Ridden as in his previous start by Damien Oliver he started favourite and won by one and a half lengths from Zanteca.^[8]

On 1 November 2016, Almandin started at odds of around 10/1 for the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, he engaged in a stirring duel with the Irish challenger Heartbreak City for most of the straight, before taking the lead and winning in the final strides.^[6]^[9]^[10]

In 2019, Almandin was retired to the Living Legends property.^[11]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Almandin (GER), bay gelding, 2010^[12]
Sire Monsun	Königsstuhl	Dschingis Khan	Tamerlane
		Dschingis Khan	Donna Diana
		Königskrönung	Tiepoletto
		Königskrönung	Krönung
	Mosella	Surumu	Literat
		Surumu	Surama
		Monasia	Authi
		Monasia	Monacensia
Dam Anatola	Tiger Hill	Danehill	Danzig
		Danehill	Razyana
		The Filly	Appiani II
		The Filly	Tigress Silver
	Avocette	Kings Lake	Nijinsky
		Kings Lake	Fish-Bar
		Akasma	Windwurf [de]
		Akasma	Anona (Family 2-n)^[4]