3 minute read
Karen Outtrim had an honest answer when asked what attracted her to today’s Mudgee winner Dragon’s Shadow.
"He was affordable," the Hawkesbury trainer said of her $5000 purchase at a Sydney Ready 2 Race sale four years ago.
But then she explained that a connection with Think Big Stud, where Dragon's Shadow was bred, led to her purchasing the now six-year-old.
"I had bought a few horses previously from the stud, and the manager at the time suggested this horse as a potential purchase at the sale," Outtrim explained this evening on her way home from Mudgee.
"He said he was still on the small side but went allright.
"Dragon's Shadow isn't a big horse but is athletic and very sound.
"He has been a terrific horse for our stable."
There's no doubt about that. Dragon's Shadow at only his second won a 1500m Maiden Handicap on his home track three years ago at $201, kicking off his trainer's 2017-18 season in defeating Social Element, runner-up in last year's 3200m Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.
The gelding has since won a further three races (along with five placings) and his earnings, including a BOBS bonus, stand at $86,190. A nice return indeed for such a small outlay.
Dragon's Shadow's sire Pendragon was prepared by the late Bart Cummings, and his two wins were both in Group 3s; the Gloaming Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens and Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield in 2005.
He was also runner-up in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick and fourth in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington that year.
He is the fifth foal of the now deceased Carnegie mare Northbourne Avenue, who raced only twice before being retired to stud.
Dragon's Shadow has made a habit of providing Outtrim with a quick start to three of the last four seasons.
He also won a Class 1/Maiden Plate (1900m) in August last year on Canberra's ACTON (synthetic) track.
Outtrim was confident Dragon's Shadow would race well today in country grade following a first-up ninth at $151 to Rabbit Clause in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m) at Hawkesbury on August 20.
"The jockey (Adrian Layt) who rode him that day said he was doing his best work at the end," Outtrim said.
"He looked nicely placed today going back to the country and dropping in grade, and his rider Mathew Cahill had won on him before and rode him beautifully again."
Dragon's Shadow ($11) edged clear in the closing stages to win today's Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m) easily from $8 chances Five Star Gal and another Hawkesbury representative, Joseph Khalifeh's mare Tribuna.
He has won up to 2008m, and looks set for another successful campaign.