The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Dragon Leap will make his first Australian appearance in Saturday’s G2 Drinkwise Tramway S. with Glen Boss booked for the ride.
Dragon Leap was among New Zealand’s leading 3-year-olds last season with three wins from his five starts, including consecutive Group 2 victories in the Auckland Guineas and the Avondale Guineas.
The gelding was heavily fancied to claim the G1 New Zealand Derby and, after a tardy beginning, finished a gallant fourth after hitting the front 400 metres from home.
“We are really looking forward to getting some racing into him and he’s done a fair bit of work so he is forward enough to run well,” Scott said.
However, he did sound a word of warning about Dragon Leap’s first-up prospects.
“We are under no illusions though, it’s by far and away the strongest field he has ever met,” Scott said.
“We are under no illusions though, it’s by far and away the strongest field he has ever met.” – Andrew Scott
Dragon Leap was unplaced last month in an open 1000 metre trial, but he satisfied his trainers with his performance on a rain-affected track.
“We were pleased with his trial. He’s done a fair bit of work and settled in well,” Scott said.
Under the care of stable foreman Helen Osbourne in Sydney, the direction of Dragon Leap’s spring campaign will be determined by his performance in the Tramway.
“We’ll look at the G1 Epsom H. if he runs up to a standard we are hoping for on Saturday. His New Zealand form was encouraging and we’d like to think he can make the step up in Australia,” Scott said.
Dragon Leap as a yearling
Dragon Leap is raced by Hermitage Thoroughbreds and was purchased out of Coolmore’s draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $1,050,000. The ticket was co-signed by Hermitage, Wexford Stables and Andrew Williams.
He is a half-brother to the G1 Randwick Guineas winner and sire Inference with their dam the multiple winner and Group performer Pontiana (Redoute’s Choice), whose brother Grand Jardin won the Listed Crawford S. winner.
Their dam Liberty Rose (Royal Academy {USA}) was successful in the Listed Morpettville Guineas and was Group placed and the family of the Group 3 winners Kanzan (Commands) and her son Ranier (Lonhro).
Promising colt
Hermitage also has Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) in work with O’Sullivan and Scott and the unraced colt was a trial winner at Te Teko this week.
He was bought out of Tyreel Stud’s Easter draft for $425,000 and is a son of Affairoftheheart (NZ) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), who was successful six times and is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel).
“He quickened well at the trials and he’s a lovely, big horse. He looks like he’s got a bright future,” Scott said. “We’ll see how he does in the next few days and get him to the races sometime in September.”
The stable is also expecting improvement from Sir Charles Road (Myboycharlie {Ire}) following two unplaced runs over 1400 and 1900 metres in Sydney.
“He’s getting fitter and he’ll run in the G3 Kingston Town S. next over 2000 metres. He’s needed the racing and his aim is the G1 Metropolitan H. and he’ll be at his best with another run under his belt and getting up to 2400 metres,” Scott said.
A regular visitor to Australia in recent years and a creditable seventh in the G1 Melbourne Cup of 2018, Sir Charles Road finished fifth in last year’s Kingston Town before he ran third in The Metropolitan.
