Draw favours Who Dares in The Straight Six
Who Dares has finally lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him winning a Stakes race at Flemington.
The Listed Straight Six (1200m) on Saturday fell the way of the heavily supported gelding, prepared at Mornington by Pat Carey and Harris Walker.
Sent out the $3.30 favourite under Patrick Moloney, Who Dares scored by a head from Nicolini Vito ($19) with Maharba ($13) a further 1-½ lengths away third.
Walker put Saturday’s victory down to maturity.
The gelding contested the Creswick Sprint Series for three-year-olds at the corresponding time last season, and while he ran well, he kept finding one, or two, better.
Moloney took Who Dares to the front on Saturday and kept him in a rhythm, holding off the late challenge.
“I think his improvement, it is all down to maturity and time,” Walker said.
“He was physically mature, but mentally he wasn’t, and he just needed time, and time, and time, and now we’re seeing the fruits of that.
“We love it and hopefully it keeps going.”
Who Dares may have benefitted from drawing the widest barrier (he came into gate 14 after five scratchings) but Walker added it was Moloney’s ride in keeping the gelding in a rhythm that shone out.
“Throughout the whole week we were hoping that would be the place to be and the way the track has played today, that definitely was,” Walker said.
“We had a plan with Paddy to keep him nice and calm, in a nice rhythm, and he did that.
“The difference was today, he was left alone. It’s a very long straight and the horses were coming, but he has a few extra gears that he just isn’t using yet.
“We have had to take a big step going to Listed grade, but we know the level he’s at, so it’s not a big step for us.
“In the ratings he’s down low, but we know he’s better than that, so we’re happy to go into races like this and it worked out well today.”
Who Dares’ victory was the first at Stakes level for Walker since joining Carey in a training partnership at the start of the season.
“It is a huge thrill, but I wouldn’t be here without Pat,” Harris said.
“It’s not a Stakes win for me, it’s a Stakes win for the team and without Pat I wouldn’t be here, but I am happy to be here.”
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Mile test for Harry’s Yacht in 2026 Vobis Gold Reef
Will Larkin is confident the timing is right to test Harry’s Yacht over the mile when the gelding contests Saturday’s Vobis Gold Reef at Flemington. The four-year-old has enjoyed a strong preparation to date, registering two wins at benchmark level and adding two placings in Vobis races over 1200 metres. Training in...