Australian Bloodstock has been in the ownership of Melbourne Cup winners Protectionist (2014) and Gold Trip (2022).
Wine Dark Sea is prepared by English trainer Harry Charlton but will have a new Australian trainer post the Spring Carnival as it is intended for him to remain in this country to continue his career.
Lovett said he was hopeful the stayer could impact straight off the plane in the Caulfield Cup.
‘’He profiles like one of those horses that doesn’t have a ceiling so we don’t know how good he is just yet,’’ he said. ‘’He comes through the handicaps and he’s a horse that can put himself on speed, so he certainly profiles as a Caulfield horse.
‘’He has not done a lot of travelling as he’s still a young, immature horse so you are always a bit guarded until they get here but if he takes the trip well and arrives on the day in good shape, I can’t see how he won’t run well.’’
Lovett admitted he was uncertain whether Defiantly would ever become a Melbourne Cup contender, but said he was starting to believe.
‘’Before he won a five-horse Kergorlay, I thought he’d be getting here with 51 (kgs),’’ he said.
‘’If you’d asked me two months ago, I’d have thought he’d lucky to be on the plane because I thought he was too slow, but he’s had a really good reaction from the blinkers.
‘’He can take luck out of play because he bounces on speed and he’s got a very big engine. He likes fast ground.
‘’He’ll probably return home after the spring as we want to run home in the Gold Cup (at Royal Ascot) in June next year because he’s shown he can run 4000 metres and take out the top horse Scandinavia, there isn’t a lot of depth around for a race like that.’’
At the time of writing, Wine Dark Sea was rated a $15 chance for the $6 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17, while $34 is available about Royal Supremacy in the same race.
Defiantly is the $11 co-favourite for the Melbourne Cup along with Aeliana and Half Yours while Wine Dark Sea is at $15.