Group One-performed stallion prospect Fast Dragon has returned to Sydney in search of big-race success.
The Bruce Wallace-trained Fastnet Rock four-year-old was unplaced in four starts in Sydney in the spring of his three-year-old year but connections have high hopes for an improved showing in Saturday's Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
"He lost a back plate and got galloped on in his last run at Ellerslie so he had excuses. He's come through that race well and is 100 percent so we were happy to press on to Sydney," said Allan Peard, Wallace's assistant trainer.
Fast Dragon flew to Sydney on Tuesday and had settled in well, Peard said.The Albert Po and Kang Ching Ma-raced entire was entered for both the Ranvet Stakes and the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in Sydney on Saturday, as well as the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Japan-New Zealand International Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga.
"We just wanted to look at all our options but the Ranvet suits him best," Peard said."A 1600m weight-for-age race in Australia is very hard to win. The 2000m suits him better and it's a smaller field. The Ranvet has drawn a strong field of high-quality gallopers so he'll have to be at his best. He'll more than likely lead and run a bold race but whether he can run in the money, we'll have to see."
Brenton Avdulla, who guided the Wallace-trained Deane Martin to Gr.3 Colin Stephens Quality success in Sydney in the spring, has been engaged to ride Fast Dragon."It will be good to have Brenton back on," Peard said.
Wallace and Peard will assess Fast Dragon's run on Saturday before deciding on what path they take with him.Races such as Saturday week's Gr.1 $A2.25 million The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill and the Gr.1 $A4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 11 would come into consideration if Fast Dragon proved competitive this weekend, while a trip home for the Gr.1 Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie on April 18 also remains an option.
