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Sir Dragonet draws nine for All-Star Mile

3 minute read

Russian Camelot, who will kick off his preparation, has drawn in two

RUSSIAN CAMELOT winning the Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes at Caulfield in Australia.
RUSSIAN CAMELOT winning the Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes at Caulfield in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos.

Should Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winner Sir Dragonet (Camelot) take his place in the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday he will jump from barrier nine. 

Despite the stallion working well at The Valley on Tuesday morning, co-trainer Ciaron Maher remains unsure whether the colt will line up in the $5 million race, with the stable unwilling to run the colt if the ground does not come up soft enough. 

“We’re just doing the best thing by the horse,” said Maher. “I’d love to tell you that, ‘yes, he’s lining up’ but that wouldn’t be doing the right thing by the horse.

“If the track suits, he’ll take his place. As much as you can rely on the weather, there is a bit of rain around on Saturday. Hopefully that comes and he can get his toe in (to the track) and be thereabouts.”

Meanwhile, another son of Camelot (Montjeu) - dual Group 1 winner Russian Camelot - will jump from barrier two in the All-Star Mile, with trainer Danny O’Brien looking forward to seeing the colt kick-off his autumn preparation on Saturday. 

“The test will come on Saturday whether he’s a better horse or not but he’s big and strong,” O’Brien said.

“I think the gap between now and the spring was just about right for him to catch his breath because the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup were pretty tough runs.

“He’s fresh and he’s ready to go back to the races.”

All-being well the colt is likely to tackle the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Randwick on April 10. 

Trainer Kris Lees described Mugatoo (Henrythenavigator) as ‘spot on’ ahead of his run in the All Star Mile. 

The Australian Bloodstock-raced gelding will jump from barrier eight in the 1600 metre contest and Lees was happy with what he saw when the gelding stepped out in a gallop at The Valley on Tuesday. 

"It was a pretty leisurely gallop wider out on the track, but he got around without any problem and pulled up well," Lees said.

"He is ready to go on Saturday.

"There was plenty of rain in Melbourne last night, and the track was a 'Soft 7' this morning. I hope it stays that way on Saturday as it will suit Mugatoo nicely."

A winner of the Newcastle Gold Cup (Gr 3, 2300m) in September, Mugatoo finished an eye-catching fourth behind Sir Dragonet in the Cox Plate in October and kicked off his autumn campaign with a fifth place finish behind Collette (Hallowed Crown) in the Apollo Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Randwick on February 13. 


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