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Eustace Hopeful Dry Track Can Help Sir Dragonet

3 minute read

Son of Camelot set to tackle Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

SIR DRAGONET.
SIR DRAGONET. Picture: Steve Hart

Co-trainer David Eustace is hopeful the drying track may aid Sir Dragonet's (Camelot) chances of toppling Verry Elleegant (Zed) and Addeybb (Pivotal) in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Randwick on Saturday. 

The son of Camelot (Montjeu) sealed himself as an elite wet-tracker when winning the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) on wet ground earlier in the season, but with Verry Elleegant and Addeybb also well known mudlarks, Eustace feels the dry will affect them more than Sir Dragonet. 

"It's going to be a tough task," Eustace told Racing.com. 

"It's going to be a dry week, which we feel might work in our favour. We have proven that he handles being on top of the ground, which he did in the Tancred and the Melbourne Cup, whereas the other two, it is safe to say, are better on wet tracks. In a funny sort of way, a dry week suits.

"The flipside is going back in trip (from 2400m to 2000m) possibly doesn't. But he has really come on from each start and has had a really good week."

Sir Dragonet - who will jump from barrier two on Saturday - found Verry Elleegant and Addeybb too strong, when finishing fourth behind the pair in the Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m), but he has since shown his well being when landing the HE Tancred Stakes (Gr 1, 2400m) at Rosehill on his next start. 

Meanwhile, Ciaron Maher and Eustace will rely on Southern France (Galileo) in the Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) at Randwick on Saturday. 

The son of Galileo (Sadler's Wells) finished an eye-catching seventh behind his stablemate Sir Dragonet in the Tancred Stakes and he will line-up in barrier five on Saturday, with in-form rider James McDonald booked to take the ride. 

"He looks like a genuine stayer now … this has been the target for some time. It's a long-range plan and we are really looking forward to it," Eustace said.

"I think he has got a big chance."


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