Saracino wins 2016 Danehill Stakes Group 2 $200,000 at Flemington (VIC) 3yo, 1200m.

New Zealand colt Saracino put up a really promising effort in taking out this Group Two race at his first Australian start, his second Group Two victory in only five starts to date. He travelled nicely in third spot, travelling close to the lead before taking a clear lead at the 400m. He then kept fighting back gamely when challenged to score a very smart win.

Archives also raced close to the lead, went to second at the 400m, challenged strongly at the 100m and battled well to hold that position just finding the winner a bit too good.

SA-trained filly Samara Dancer raced in sixth place, not far from the leaders with the whole field remaining closer to the Grandstand side. She moved up well at the 100m and fought on particularly well for a smart third in a promising first up effort.

Wazzenme was back in ninth place at the 800m and did well in running on late for (1.7 lengths) fourth.

The favourite Defcon disappointed. He was back in tenth place, not that far from the leaders, but was under pressure from the 400m and just battled on for (4.2 lengths) eighth, perhaps being affected racing closer to the centre of the track in the Soft5 conditions.