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Top jockey Michael Rodd received high praise for his expert handling of Draco in the $75,000 Year Of The Rooster Stakes, a Restricted Maiden race for 2YO & 3YO on Sunday.
Assistant-trainer Tim Fitzsimmons said the Australian jockey has this knack of still saving his horses’ energy even when the barrier draws have not been kind to him.
The Cliff Brown-trained Draco jumped reasonably well from barrier No 13 but Rodd immediately allowed the Falkirk three-year-old to drop his neck and settle at the rear with cover.
When the field straightened for the judge, Rodd still had plenty of horse under him as he went looking for daylight. The moment he found it at the 300m, the race was over in the twinkling of an eye.
Draco extended beautifully to sprint away to a comfortable 1 ½-length win from Commando Eclipse (Alan Munro) with Redoubt (Glen Boss) third another three parts of a length away. The winning time was 1min 10.72secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
“It was a 10 out of 10 ride from Michael. He can just put his horses away from the back and not get caught too deep,” said Fitzsimmons.
“He’s done it again. He just got a nice suck-up for this horse and once the opening came up in the straight, he was too good.
“The horse has had just one trial and he’s put it away nicely today. He will definitely be better over more ground, a mile would be nice for him.”
Rodd said the Brown camp held some concerns over the outermost alley, but things just fell into place during the race.
“We couldn’t be too confident with the wide gate. That was a major spanner in the works,” said the Australian rider.
“But he began well. It got a bit messy early, but he was able to get in a nice position at the back.
“He’s got gears this bloke and he has a lot of upsides. He will be even better as it gets closer to the mile.”
Draco was tasting his first success at his fourth start for Astley Phua’s Olympian Stable, after coming close with two seconds at his first two runs. He has now won around $65,000 in stakes.