The Warrnambool carnival might celebrate the jumping horses, but the $200,000 Listed Colin McKenna Wangoom Handicap (1200m) is always a highlight with victory this year going to a five year-old gelding by much missed Victorian sire Magnus.
Trained on the track by Aaron Purcell, Dashing was well backed to win at his first run back from a spell and was too good for Tom Madden in scoring by half a length.
It was the first stakes win for a tough and gritty performer that has the overall record of seven wins and 14 placings from 34 starts with prizemoney just shy of $840,000.
"At the start of the preparation, it wasn't really on the cards (but) there wasn't really any other logical start-off points," said Aaron Purcell.
"He's a bit awkwardly rated in the 90s, so the options for him are a bit slim. He seemed to be going better than ever and the closer we got to the race, he just seemed so well.
"He always runs well, so we knew he'd be in the finish somewhere. Fantastic for Tom to give him a really good steer and get the job done."
Dashing was a $75,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) / G1 Goldmine from the Edinburgh Park draft and has been gold for his happy owners.
Dashing is the best of three winners from Westchester, a metro winning Reset mare from a European female family that has also produced Group I winner Lord of Men.
Dashing is the 31st stakes-winner for Magnus, who passed away in 2023.
