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Fast Dragon is back from Sydney to head a possible two-handed attack on the Gr.1 Easter Handicap for trainer Bruce Wallace.
The four-year-old returned last week to prepare for the Manco-sponsored feature on April 18 at Ellerslie where he won the Listed Champagne Stakes two years ago.
Fast Dragon’s fifth placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes earlier last month earned him a shot at the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill and he gave a bold sight in front.While he finished at the back of a high class field, he was only four and a half lengths from the winner Contributor.
“He went a bit earlier than anticipated and then in the BMW he didn’t stay the 2400 metres,” stable foreman Allan Peard said. “Fresh at 2000 metres is his limit.”The Easter is also a race on the programme for It Has To be You, who resumed his New Zealand career in encouraging style at Te Aroha with a fourth placing in the open sprint.
“If he had drawn a barrier he could have run second, but we had to ride him back from the wide gate,” Peard said.It Has To Be You won twice for Wallace as a three-year-old before he transferred to John Size’s Hong Kong stable.
“He was a Group One winner there in the Classic Cup and beat an international field,” Peard said. “He‘s a very good horse who had a few joint issues so the decision was made to bring him home for the climate and the green grass.“The Easter is his main target, but he’s on a Rating 87 so we don’t know yet if he’ll get in. Hopefully he does and we can look forward to two strong chances.”