Getting back to the form that saw him win the Group 1 WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley at his Australian debut last spring, Sir Dragonet (IRE) was a class above in Saturday's $1,470,000 Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Ridden by Glen Boss for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Sit Dragonet (IRE) enjoyed a trouble-free run from his inside barrier. When Boss pressed the button at the 300m the Hollywood-handsome son of Camelot (IRE) strode to the front under a minimum of urging. He defeated the improving 5yo Dundeel mare She's Ideel by two and a quarter lengths with the 4yo Reliable Man mare Miami Bound a long-neck back in third.
"I believe that he came on from his last run," Boss said.
"These horses are never out of work when they are in Europe, so they don't get the chance to get fresh, and he got fresh here and got a little bit above himself.
"He never went to the line the other day like he did today, I know it's a mile-and-a-half, but he just whacked away the other day like a tired horse.
"I said to Ciaron he's not fit this horse, so that's the run that brought him on.
"He's got here today on a good track over a mile and a half and he's given them an absolute spanking."
Ciaron Maher said that Sir Dragonet had booked his ticket for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, where he takes on Verry Elleegant and Addeybb.
"It is good to get him back to his best form," Maher said.
He put the writing on the wall last week (4th in the Ranvet). I suppose the back up was the only query.
"He was super, Glen (Boss) obviously rode him very confidently, and he had him relaxed.
"You could see in the yard today he was relaxed. He was a little bit fresh last week.
"I'd just like to thank the team up here. They've done a great job with him, Jack Bruce and everyone.
"He's taken a fair bit of work and he'll probably head on now into the Queen Elizabeth."
Runner-up to the superstar Magical in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, Sir Dragonet (IRE) advances his record to four wins and four seconds from 15 starts with earnings of $4,841,770.
The son of Camelot (IRE) is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the Group III-placed Oasis Dream mare Sparrow who is a daughter of the superbly-bred Group III winner and Group 1 Epsom Oaks runner-up All Too Beautiful (Sadler's Wells), who is a sister to breed-shaper Galileo and Black Same Bellamy and a half-sister to Sea The Stars, My Typhoon, Urban Ocean, Born To Sea and Melikah.
