Eliza Park International has purchased the Irish mare, Voleuse de Coeurs, with the intention of running her in the Melbourne Cup.

The mare, formerly trained on The Curragh by Dermot Weld, is a winner of the Irish St Leger and is fully qualified for the Cup with 54 kg.

She is a five year old to northern hemisphere time, with a record of five wins from 13 starts, with three wins over 3200 metres.

Now that Voleuse de Coeurs has been declared as a definite runner in the Melbourne Cup, she has shortened considerably in betting.

The mare has been purchased by a syndicate, including the chairman of Eliza Park International, Mr Ting Kong Cheng, who is destined to become a serious player within the thoroughbred industry.

Voleuse de Coeurs entered quarantine in Newmarket last Thursday after reportedly travelling well from Ireland; she will arrive in Australia Caulfield Cup day, coming out of quarantine on Derby Day.

She will enter the Flemington stables of Michael Moroney, he has a great record with stayers, as most ex New Zealanders have, he is one of the best in the business having trained Brew to win the Cup in 2000.

No rider has been selected for the mare at this stage, there is still time to pick up a good rider, there will be no shortage of competent jockeys waiting in the wings, not tied down to a Cup mount.

The imported mare has an intriguing pedigree that could easily throw breeding buffs into turmoil.

She is by Teofilo, a European champion two year old winning at his only five starts at that age, from Vadorga by Grand Lodge; she was only placed at 3 in France.

As Teofilo remained unbeaten, and is by Galileo, an English Derby winner and a noted sire of stayers, the plot deepens; obviously Galileo has a strong influence in the pedigree of the Melbourne Cup aspirant.

Voleuse de Coeurs winning the Irish St. Leger