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Resuming Guy Walter maiden Dragon Flyer looks nicely placed at Goulburn this afternoon to continue his trainer’s recent purple patch of form.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The three-year-old gelding will line up in the Weddings On Track Maiden (1200m), a race severely weakened by the likely withdrawal of Joseph Pride runner Fast Take who ran at Newcastle on Monday.
Dragon Flyer is one of nine potential runners for the Walter juggernaut in action at Goulburn today.
Fresh off a winning double at Randwick on Saturday, where Toydini and Skyerush both saluted, Walter should enjoy another day with his satellite Goulburn stable.
Dragon Flyer is first-up off a 162-day spell, and comes into this fresh off a recent trial on track.
He ran third in two runs over the spring through his debut campaign, finishing just 3.3L away from Peter Snowden’s Academus on debut with a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 72.
Just two runs after that maiden win, Academus headed to Perth and gustily claimed the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m).
Dragon Flyer’s next move was another maiden run at Goulburn where he ran third beaten half a length over 1400m.
He carried 58kg and in fairness though he was probably ready for the spelling paddock. For the record the run earned Dragon Flyer a weight-adjusted Timeform rating of 73.
No doubt the gelding has improved over the summer under Walter’s master care. He’s come back into a suitable looking maiden, and will be ridden by the in-form Blake Shinn who orchestrated Walter’s winning double on Saturday.
Expect him to run a super race today.
With Fast Take out of the equation, local galloper Impulse looks the stiffest opposition for Walter’s youngster.
Trained by Danny Williams, the two-year-old son of Exceed and Excel ran a handy fourth on debut 19 days ago in midweek grade at Canterbury, beaten three lengths by Gai Waterhouse’s Divine Calling. Impulse’s run netted a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 61.
Waterhouse’s juvenile pressed on to the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday and finishing fourth behind Safeguard.
That form all reads pretty well for this Goulburn maiden, and Impulse should get his chance carrying 56kg to Dragon Flyer’s 58.5kg.
Jockey Hugh Bowman takes the ride too which is a good sign.
Debutant Fairbanks is potentially the danger, on debut for the Hawkes stable.
The three-year-old colt, a son of Redoute’s Choice, has trialled well twice in Sydney heading into this so respect any betting in the market.
