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Rich Ellerslie feature a steppingstone to Australian Guineas hopes for promising three-year-old Pendragon.
Talented horse names making their return to the racebook happens from time to time and should Pendragon find his was to taking on the Australian Guineas at Flemington in March, many punters will quickly recall the Bart Cummings-trained galloper of the mid 2000s.
This Pendragon, however, is the Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard -trained version who Moroney hopes can step up to the Group 1 1600-metre feature via the NZ$1.5 million (AU$1.39 million) Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Bought by Moroney's brother Paul for NZ$110,000 at the 2022 Karaka Sale, Pendragon is rated a $9 chance to go near cracking the million dollars in prizemoney this weekend.
The son of US Navy Flag took four starts to break his maiden in November last year and since then has put two more victories together including last start in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) on December 26.
"He is the type of horse we would bring over (from New Zealand) and have a go," Moroney said.
Unlike the old Pendragon who ran fourth in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in 2005, Moroney doesn't believe that the current Pendragon is one for those staying trips.
"I don't know that he's a Derby horse," he added.
"On the dam side there is staying form but being by US Navy Flag, there's the sprinting quality in England and Ireland."
Saturday's Ellerslie meeting also features the NZ$1 million Karaka Millions 2YO and NZ$1 Aotearoa Classic (1600m) where 2023 Victoria Derby winner Legarto is the $1.60 favourite.
