3 minute read

Trainer Douglas Dragon notched a winning double when Golden Number led throughout to take the $95,000 Phenom Open Benchmark 97 Stakes over 1800m on Sunday.

Dragon won earlier in the day with Long Haul, one of Joao Moreira's early quartet of winners.

Ridden by nine-time premiership winning jockey Saimee Jumaat, Golden Number scored by a length-and-a-half over Hint (V Sivan) with Intercept (Moreira) a length-and-a-quarter away third.

Golden Number run the 1800m in 1 min 48.98 secs, almost 2.7 secs outside of Superb's course record.

Dragon said it was nice to get a double for the afternoon and said he went into Sunday's contest confident of success.

“This horse has been improving all the time,” said Dragon. “And his work during the week was very good.

“He got a nice easy lead and was well-rated in front. He also has that good sprint at the end of his races.”

Dragon said he would now confer with connections but said there was a possibility that Golden Number would now be aimed at feature Group 1 races coming up.

He said the Group 1 Kranji Mile and the Group 1 Raffles Cup later in the year were possible targets.

“The Kranji Mile and the Raffles Cup are a couple of races that we might have to consider,” said Dragon.

“Like I said earlier he is improving all the time and he might be ready for the step up in grade.”

Saimee said he was a little surprised by the ease of the victory and added that he had been left alone in front.

“We got a pretty soft run in front and when he's able to do that he can be hard to run down,” said Saimee.

“He quickened up nicely on the hometurn and was able to put a couple of lengths on them and he held that to the finish.

“He's going extra well and he's capable of winning a better race.”

A six-year-old Australian-bred by Jeune from the Turtle Island mare Island Drum, Golden Number took his prizemoney past the $500,000 mark with his ninth win in 38 starts for the Sky Stable.