STAKES DOUBLE AT CAULFIELD

Sound and Dragon Storm gave the stable a stakes double at Caulfield on Saturday with Sound going back-to-back in the Group 2 Zipping Classic.

Punters sent out Melbourne Cup third Spanish Moon the odds-on favourite however, enjoying a perfect ride from Jamie Mott, Sound produced the best turn of foot in the home straight to sprint home and defeat Dr Drill by half a length.

Mike Moroney was full of praise for the German stallion.

“Nine-years-old and probably racing at his best, these staying bred horses, German horses in particular, they’ve got longevity in their legs without any doubt and he’s done a great job,” Mike said.

“He’s now won $1.8 million in prizemoney so he has done a good job. He has been a bit maligned as being a bridesmaid but he got it today.

“We’re hoping he’s hopefully going to find a stud in New Zealand. It is a good place to breed nice stayers and they are renowned for doing it. He’d be the right sort of horse in the right home.

“He’ll probably go back to the Auckland Cup at this stage rather than Sydney Cup. We might back him up in the Pakenham Cup next week but we’ll see how he pulls up.”

Mott said the sit-sprint tempo suited Sound. “I was getting more confident because the sit-and-sprint played into my favour, last start (in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes) was a staying test."

"I thought there might be one, maybe two better today if it was a strong staying test so I was happy that it was run softly and my bloke would have a nice short, sharp sprint.”

Earlier in the day and Mike’s change of gear worked the oracle with Dragon Storm pouncing late in the Sandown Cup.

“He’s been racing a bit plain but blinkers off and up to two-miles did the trick,’’ Mike said.

"His owners were thinking if he didn’t do anything today they were going to take him back to New Zealand but on that now they may stay here and have a crack at something like the Bagot.”