Following a troubled third on debut at Canterbury on June 9, the Mikki Isle (JPN) gelding Dragonstone made no mistake at start two at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, and he looks to have a bright future.
Ridden by Josh Parr for trainer Mark Newnham, Dragonstone was caught three-wide the trip in the 1100m 2yo colts and gelding maiden. On a very heavy track, Parr still had a good hold on Dragonstone coming around the home turn, and with one backhander, the son of Mikki Isle (JPN) put the race to bed.
The Pierro colt War Eternal stuck on gamely to be beaten a length, and a win is not far off for the Bjorn Baker trainee.
The Capitalist gelding Clemenceau started the well-backed favourite but found a tough spot to make his career debut and was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Holbrook Thoroughbreds consigned the son of Mikki Isle (JPN) to the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Highway Session, where he failed to make his $65,000 reserve.
Bred by Forest Lodge, Dragonstone is the second live foal and second winner out of the Shamardal (USA) Quick’s The Word, who kickstarted her racetrack career with three wins at Gosford, Kembla Grange and Canterbury. Trained by Bjorn Baker, Quick’s The Word did not win again, although she was runner-up a further four times in a 14-start career.
Knocked down to Magic Millions, as agent, for $64,000 at the 2012 National Broodmare Sale, Quick’s The Word is a granddaughter of the Group II VRC Maribyrnong Plate and Group III VATC Debutante Stakes winner Catchfire (Century) from the family of River Dove and Headwater.
Quick’s The Word has a yearling filly by Pariah and a weanling colt by Headwater. She was covered by Cosmic Force last spring.
. Dragonstone becomes the send winner in Australia for Deep Impact’s dual Group 1 winning son Mikki Isle (JPN), who shuttled to Arrowfield Stud for three seasons, the last in 2019.
