Won last year by Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare, the Listed VRC TCL TV Stakes (1800m) for three year-olds at Flemington on Thursday was won in good style by progressive Dissident gelding Pancho.
Prepared by Chris Waller and ridden by Hugh Bowman, Pancho was stakes-placed at Flemington is his final start as a juvenile before heading to the spelling paddock.
His three runs since resuming have all been excellent with a last start second in the $1million ATC Bondi Stakes to stablemate Kubrick putting the writing on the wall.
Pancho settled back in the field and enjoyed a good run in transit before letting loose up the straight with a sustained burst that carried him past the well backed Russian Camelot to score a determined three-quarter length win.
“We had a lovely slipstream in the run behind Damien Oliver and Craig Williams and when I produced him, he went to the line to win with authority,” Bowman said.
Pancho has built a tidy record with three wins and three placings from nine starts earning prizemoney in excess of $380,000.
“He ran very well last start in our new $1million race, the Bondi Stakes, so he’s really franked the form out of that race,” Waller said.
Bred by Sledmere Stud, Pancho made $150,000 as a weanling at the Magic Millions National Sale when bought by Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA)/Newgate Farm and was then re-offered by Newgate at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale fetching $165,000 to the bid of Laurel Oak Bloodstock.
Pancho has proven a great investment for his lucky owners and is the first winner for Group III placed Written Tycoon mare Novel Dancer, who has foaled this spring producing a colt by another young Newgate sire in Russian Revolution.
Pancho is the first stakes-winner for Sebring’s champion son Dissident, who stands at Newgate Farm at a fee of $27,500.
