MV SEPT 11 - EPIC DRAGON SCORES TOUGH, GUTSY WIN

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, September 12, 2010

Moonee Valley, September 11, 2010.
Track - Slow 6. Rail - True. Penetrometer 5.02.
3YO Handicap - 1500m.
Time: 1-33.34. 600m Sectional: 38.49. (Carrying 55kg).
1 Epic Dragon; 2 Mucho Respectos; 3 Run For Levi.
Margins: 0.2L x 1.5L.

The John Sadler yard continued their excellent recent winning run when the three-year-old colt Epic Dragon was able to salute in the opening event at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Having only his fourth career start, Epic Dragon was sent to post at double figure odds after a slightly disappointing first up effort in the Listed McKenzie Stakes three weeks ago.

Trainer John Sadler advised stewards prior to the running of the event that due to a favourable barrier draw, the Al Maher colt would be ridden more forward.

From barrier two apprentice rider Jake Noonan had Epic Dragon quickly into stride and settled the colt down in third position trailing tearaway leader Ulundi by four lengths after racing 300 metres.

Ben Melham aboard Ulundi ensured the race was run at a genuine tempo and the Pat Carey trained colt lead the field a merry dance down the side of the track by seven lengths.

Epic Dragon came off the bridle 600 metres from home and jockey Noonan continued to rail the Sadler trained galloper along the fence in a measure to save valuable ground.

In the early part of the straight, the early leader Ulundi was under heavy pressure and Epic Dragon had managed to rail through and pop off his back and come with a well-timed run.

Epic Dragon struck the front at the 100 metre mark under the urgings of Noonan and although rolling around over the final 75 metres held on for a determined victory holding off the persistent challenge of Muchos Respectos with top weight Run for Levi finishing in third position.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Troy Corstens (Team Corstens Racing Manager): “John actually wanted to be here today but we had to gallop a few at Bendigo this morning … so he left the saddling up to me.

“John’s done a really good job with this horse. I actually doubted him. I questioned him at the start of the week. I was just worried about the step up from the 1200 metres to 1500 metres, but he had a lot of faith in the horse and he has trained him to the minute and there is still improvement to come.

“When that thing took off I would have liked it to have stayed with us that little bit longer and it might of given us a bit more of a cart into the race, so he was probably forced to do a bit more than we wanted him to, but he stuck it out well.

“He is in the Guineas (Caulfield), but what we will do is we will run him in the Bill Stutt Stakes, see how he goes and compares in that and then we will make the decision if we do run him in the Caulfield Guineas or take him to the Victoria Derby.”

Jockey Jake Noonan: “It really suited our horse because we drew nice and got a little bit of cover throughout the race. It was probably good experience for him too because he doesn’t really know much, but his ability pulled through.

“He probably wandered before. I reckon he was worse when we were going around the corner and when we first straightened up. The last little bit … when we hit the front … he was a little bit weary and didn’t know how to hit the line, but his ability probably pulled through there.

“He is going to get over ground and in time he will probably be a bit of blinker horse just to keep his mind on the job a bit.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Epic Dragon): 8.00 out to 10.00.
Favourite (Servant): 2.60 out to 2.80 into 2.70. Finished fifth.

Horse to follow: The favourite Servant enjoyed no favours in the run being posted three and four wide throughout, yet had the gall to battle on strongly and finish on the heels of the placegetters.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Prior to Race 1, trainer J. Sadler advised Stewards that from the favourable barrier draw, it was the stable’s intentions to have Epic Dragon ridden in a forward position today, which was in contrast to the colt’s last start at Moonee Valley on August 21. Epic Dragon was ridden accordingly.

Prior to correct weight being declared, J. Winks, rider of Muchos Respectos, the second place getter, lodged an objection against Epic Dragon being declared the first place getter on the grounds of alleged interference inside the final 200 metres.

On the evidence, it was established that Epic Dragon did shift out at approximately the 75 metre mark and impeded the running of Muchos Respectos, however, the Stewards formed the opinion that the degree of interference suffered to Muchos Respectos did not exceed the long neck margin between the two horses at the finish, therefore dismissed the objection.

At a later enquiry, apprentice J. Noonan (Epic Dragon) was issued with a severe reprimand for failing to stop riding and straighten his mount sooner than he did on this occasion which resulted in the interference suffered to Muchos Respectos, and in turn Servant having to be eased to avoid the heels of Muchos Respectos.

C. Williams (Roadtrain) reported that his mount jumped away awkwardly and lost some ground and as a result, was obliged to ride the gelding further back than he would have liked.

Negotiating the turn near the 1100m, Polygon Prankster shied for no apparent reason, got unbalanced and lost ground.

Servant raced wide without cover throughout.

Apprentice A. McCabe (Run For Levi) was issued with a reprimand for permitting his mount to shift in negotiating the first turn near the 1200m when insufficiently clear, tightening the running of Luckyi’mbarefoot, which had to be eased. Apprentice A. McCabe was advised that he must show far more care in future when allowing horses to shift ground.

B. Melham (Ulundi) was questioned regarding the tactics adopted on the colt today given that it lead which is in contrast to its recent patterns of racing when ridden back.

B. Melham explained that his instructions were to ride his mount closer in the field than normal but that there were no preconceived plans to lead. He added that soon after the start, he urged his mount along ever so slightly and with the addition of blinkers today, his mount commenced to go hard without his assistance. He added that rounding the first turn, his mount commenced to get its head in the air and it would have been to the horse’s detriment if he tried to restrain it.

Trainer Mr P. Carey confirmed the instructions and reinforced that it wasn’t the intentions to try and lead but to try and be in the first half of the field and that it was apparent to him that the horse did over-race in blinkers. Mr Carey undertook to notify the Stewards at the horse’s next start as to what tactics will be adopted.

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