Johannes Vermeer, a Group 1-winning juvenile and Melbourne Cup runner-up by the late Galileo, will commence stud duties at Cornwall Park in Victoria for the upcoming breeding season in Australia.

Having won the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud as a two-year-old, Johannes Vermeer added the Group 3 International to his record at four before heading out to Australia where he placed in the Ladbroke Stakes, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup in 2017.

After those performances he switched from Aidan O’Brien’s yard to Liam Howley in Australia to continue running in the colours of Lloyd and Nick Williams. His final start came in 2019 where he finished fourth behind Fifty Stars in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at Flemington.

Cornwall Park’s Peter Boyle told Racing.com: “Everyone keeps ringing, there has been a lot of interest. The way things are going I think he could get 50 to 80 mares and that’s just off the feel from the last couple of days since we announced him.

“In my experience, I’ve found if they [breeders] don’t like the pedigree they won’t make the call, most of the questions I’m getting are on type and he is a great type. He has been here a week and I can’t wait for him to let down. He is a big, strong-boned horse, which probably isn’t common in the Europeans.”

Bred by Desert Star Phoenix JVC, Johannes Vermeer was bought by BBA Ireland for €300,000 as a yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale and is out of the winning Holy Roman Emperor mare Inca Princess. That makes him a brother to Group 2 winner Elizabeth Browning, Group 1 runner-up Wembley and the Listed-winning Sapa Inca.

He will be offered to Australian breeders at an opening fee of A$11,000 (£5,900/€6,800).