Annabel Neasham and Adrian Corby Laurence Squire

© Mongol Derby 2018

Just 12 months ago, Adrian Corboy set a world record when winning the longest horse race in existence in Mongolia and this Saturday, he and his wife Kylie have their sights on another rare feat after their unraced three-year-old Billjim was entered for Saturday’s G3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

The gelding is named in honor of the Australian light horseman to take part in the Beersheba battle of World War I, who were nicknamed the Billjims.

The gelding is the only unraced horse among the 15 nominations for the Group 3 race and unraced horses have a poor record in the race.

He’s also hardly the most likely horse to be racing in an event which boasts winners of the calibre of Haradasun, Starspangledbanner, Sepoy and more recently Jukebox as he was listed as costing just $6000 at the 2017 Great Southern Bloodstock and Weanling sale.
"He’s a nice horse and he’s got a bit of depth about him," Corboy said on Monday of the gelding that won his only public trial by two and a quarter lengths at Cranbourne on August 5.

Billjim, who is by the former German horse Mawingo out of Telesto mare Arnika, has also been entered for the $2m Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and the $5m Cox Plate (2040m) this spring.

Corboy got the call-up to join English rider Annabel Neasham as his riding partner in last year’s 1000km Mongol Derby as a substitute for trainer Ciaron Maher, who had broken a leg at trackwork after being tossed off his Caulfield Cup winner Jameka.

The record of Corboy and Neasham to cover the harrowing Mongol Derby journey in seven days is under no threat this year with the race, which features former Chris Waller and now Ciaron Maher-Dave Eustace employee Justine Hales, expected to last up to 10 days.

FIRST STARTERS IN THE VAIN STAKES - since 2009

2018: TAXI (Clinton McDonald), Regan Bayliss, $61 – Last of 9

2017: A THOUSAND DEGREES (Tony McEvoy) Luke Currie, $13 – Last of 12

?2016: ZANAHARY (Robbie Laing), Kevin Forrester, $18 – Eighth of 9

2013: TEQUILA RED (Byron Cozamanis), Billy Egan, $41 – Sixth of 8

2013: DURAN (Tony Vasil), Dwayne Dunn, $21 – Seventh of 8

2010: THOU SHALL CONQUER, (Terry Mathrick), $101 – Last of 11

2009: DJATALA (Daniel Kelly), Craig Robertson, $71 – Third of 9
 

This article first appeared on Racing.com and is reprinted here with their kind permission. To find out more about Racing Victoria's Off the Track program, visit rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track.

READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE