Winner: Epic Dragon (Al Maher-Top Tips)
Race: VRC ANZAC Day Stakes LR (1400m)
Sold for: $25,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale
Vendor: Emirates Park
Buyer: Newmarc Bloodstock
Earnings: $63,150
Owner(s): Newmarc Pty Ltd (Mgr: TA Corstens), P Raftopoulos, D Hayes, Epic Centre (Mgr: Mrs J Lord), J Raftopoulos, B Pignatelli, P Chapman, R Varapodio & M Lake
Trainer: John Sadler (Kyneton)
Quality two-year-old Epic Dragon will be spelled with the Spring Carnival in mind after his fighting win in the listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington today.
In an all Magic Millions finish, Epic Dragon ($8-$9-$8) edged out Life is a Cabernet ($6-$6.50) to win by a nose.
They spaced the rest with a further length and three quarters back to the third placed Domesky ($2.70-$3.40 fav).
John Sadler, the trainer of Epic Dragon, indicated a spell was on the cards for the Al Maher colt following his stakes success.
“Leon (Corstens) always had a good opinion of him,” Sadler said. “He said he was very green and immature.”
“We decided to give him a couple of runs. As you can see when he came around the turn like a drunken sailor he’s got a lot to learn.”
“There’s a lot of improvement in his horse,” he added.
“He didn’t concentrate (in this race) at all. And that is good looking toward the future.”
“It’s nice to see him win a race here – a listed race at Flemington – albeit perhaps not a strong one – but he did it all on raw ability.”
“I’d say we’ll turn him out. I will speak to the owners of course but I’d say he’ll go out and we’ll give him a crack at the spring.”
Winning rider Brent Stanley was impressed by the performance of Epic Dragon.
“He relaxed well in front before getting a bit lost and it took all of the straight for him to get back in front.”
“The other one got a good half neck in front of me. It was probably found wanting in the finish and we started coming back at it again.”
“To my horse’s credit he never laid down – he kept on chasing,” Stanley summed up.
Epic Dragon was purchased by Newmarc Bloodstock’s Troy Corstens for just $25,000 from the draft of Emirates Park at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
With just two runs under his belt, Epic Dragon has already earned $63,150.
The young colt is one of three winners from the unraced Canny Lad mare Top Tips.
Top Tips is a half sister to Palace Symphony – a 10 time winner who was second in the Caulfield Guineas before switching to steeples where he was a star winning a Grand National, Hiskens, Von Doussa and Crisp.
The family also includes the international group winners including Nebraska Tornado, Burning Sun, Phoenix Tower, Raft, Missed Flight and Day Flight.
The runner-up Life is a Cabernet, a $23,000 Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase, continued the bright start for young sire Barely a Moment by becoming his first stakes performer with her gallant second.
