HEARTFELT WIN BY TONIA'S DRAGON

Second-up from a break, Tonia’s Dragon (3 f Time Test – Camillino, by Per Incanto) won the $18,500 Donaghys Pro-Dairy Maiden 3YO 1180 metres on 3 November at Te Aroha.

Winning two of three trials before a very good debut third in the 2YO 1100 metres on 1 July at Ruakaka, she found Heavy10 conditions beyond her in the Ryder Stakes (Listed, 1200m), but indicated to have freshened nicely when closing out of midfield with a notable effort for fifth when resuming in the Pearl Series Maiden 1200 metres on 4 October at Tauranga.

Co-trainer Pam Gerard had been looking forward to stepping the talented filly out again, and all that stood in her way appeared to be rain-affected, downgraded, footing from Soft6 to Heavy9.

Winging the gates to lead proved telling in the end, as Tonia’s Dragon set her own terms for jockey Kozzi Asano and stuck her neck out to withstand the challenge of race favourite I’munstoppable (Charm Spirit).

Tonia’s Dragon ran 1180 metres in 1:11.8 and shortened in betting from an early $8.00 & $2.20 fixed odds quote, given further defections, to pay $4.70 & $1.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

“We had been looking forward to getting her back to the races after a very good fresh-up run,” Gerard said.

“She drew a nice gate (3) and we expected a really bold showing. She’d been going super and we couldn’t have been happier with her progress between runs.

“We didn’t have a lot of time after the Ryder Stakes to have a spell and come back, but she had a couple of weeks in the paddock at home.

“She’s always been quite a strong, stocky, filly, but probably lengthened out a bit. She’s actually quite even, but hasn’t really developed physically as yet.

“I don’t think the ground ended up as bad as some thought and it held up pretty well with persistent drizzle during the day.

“Obviously they (horses) had to handle a wet track, and she’d shown to cope with it when winning at the trials, which was a reason we went to the Ryder (Stakes), but she didn’t cop it that heavy.

“I don’t think she minds a bit of cut in the track, like others in the sire line, but I think it’s mainly because she tries so hard.”

Owned by Pegasus Bloodstock, she was purchased for $100,000 at the Karaka 2022 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Little Avondale Stud.

By their resident stallion Time Test (Dubawi), Tonia’s Dragon is from the family of Champion Three-Year-Old and sire Alamosa (O’Reilly), along with Morphettville Oaks (Gr. 1, 2000m) winner Lights Of Heaven (Zabeel), a quadruple Group Two winner that amassed over $1.5m in prize money, and Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) winner Dal Cielo (Per Incanto).

The win came on the birthday of the late Taiki Yanagida, who died last year following a race fall, and in the same colours of his favourite horse, Dragon Queen (Sweynesse), whom he guided to victory in the Westbury Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m).

“It’s Taiki’s birthday, with his good mate Kozzi (Asano) aboard, and in the colours of owners who supported him,” Gerard added.

“It’s always pleasing, too, when Ballymore (Stables) wins at Te Aroha, especially being Hori’s (Mr. (Denny) Moroney) favourite track.”

Tonia’s Dragon was strapped by Rathore Singh.