3 minute read

​The successful winning run of trainer Theo Kieser continued on Friday night when Dragon Spirit took out the $75,000 Open Benchmark 74 Stakes over 1000m on the Polytrack on Friday night.

Leading from the outset, Dragon Spirit, ridden by Danny Beasley, led throughout in scoring by three-and-a-half lengths over Rising Expectation (Ivaldo Santana) with Irish Lightning (Saimee Jumaat) a length away third.

The victory was Kieser's 18th for the 2012 season and cements his position of sixth on the Trainers' Premiership Table.

Dragon Spirit was the first to begin and Beasley quickly had the gelding at the head of affairs where he was able to dictate the speed.

Turning for home he gave the three-year-old a dig in the ribs and he quickly opened up a winning break on the opposition, holding it all the way to the line.

Dragon Spirit has been a model of consistency of late and his six runs for the 2012 season has seen him record three victories and three second placings.

Kieser picked out Dragon Spirit as a yearling and secured him for A$40,000 and his victory on Friday night took his prizemoney past the $150,000 mark.

“I wish I had a stable full of horses just like him,” said Kieser. “It is so hard to find the nice ones like him.

“He has been so consistent this time in. We'll see what the handicapper does with him and make a decision from there as to where we go.

“Even though we've tried him at 1400m, I think 1000m to 1100m looks his best distance, but he's getting better with racing and he's now starting to settle as well.

“Danny got off him and said once he settled in the lead he was confident of success.”

Beasley went into the race extremely confident after Dragon Spirit galloped in excellent fashion on Tuesday morning.

“On his work on Tuesday I thought he would be very hard to beat,” said Beasley.

“That gallop really improved him and he was even better tonight.

“Theo's got this horse going really well and he's settling really well in his races as well.

“He'll win a few more this time in.”

A three-year-old by Due Sasso from the Don't Say Halo mare Icicles, Dragon Spirit has won three of his 10 starts with a further five placings for owner Tan Gim Guan.