Ascot winner Dragonlead is a stayer going places according to premiership trainer Adam Durrant.
Dragonlead (4g Black Tom – Northern Banner by Serheed) sat three-wide without cover and was still too strong for his rivals in the Racing At Belmont Park Hcp (1800m) on Saturday.
“We had ridden him conservatively at his first two starts this year but I told Peter (Knuckey) to go forward today,” Durrant said. “I wanted to see what he’s made of. He’s got ability and shows us so much at home.”
Dragonlead ranged up to the leaders in the straight and took every metre of the journey to win by a short-head from Totes Amaze (Bernardini). “To be fair, he did travel wide the whole way,” Durrant explained. “And he kept lifting like a horse looking for more ground.”
The four year-old is by G2 Perth Cup winner Black Tom. He is a Danzig line stallion through Langfuhr and stands at Rivercrest Park in the south-west at Stratham.
“I’ve got two other rippers by Black Tom at home,” Durrant added. “They need time but I think he can make it a stallion.”
Perth pharmacist Lyndon Dyson bred Dragonlead and he also raced Black Tom with partners Alan Hall and Warren Mead.
Rivercrest Park owner Steve Hoare stands Black Tom for $1,100 (inc gst) service fee alongside Kendel Star (Kenmare) and Famous Roman (Danetime).