Daggers on target for richer spring targets
Daggers is likely to be Sydney bound for his next outing after keeping his record intact with an all-the-way win at Moonee Valley.
A maiden winner at Sandown on debut, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt added the Brooks Running AU Plate (1200m) to his record on Saturday.
The Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Randwick on September 14 is likely to be the next assignment on the agenda for Daggers.
Sent out the $2.80 betting app favourite under Luke Currie, Daggers scored a 1-¾ length win from Stoli Bolli ($6.50) with Polyglot ($2.90) a long neck away third.
Young said she was relieved to see Daggers back up his debut success at Sandown with another polished performance on Saturday.
She said Daggers had tested the patience of stable staff as a two-year-old.
“We’ve known always that this horse has had the ability, but a lot of the credit has to go to Julien Welsh, Lucy and Carleen Hefel and the team there as he was really rank.
“They got him going and we didn’t see him for a couple of months.
“We tipped him out and brought him back and this time in he’s turned the corner mentally really quickly and he’s shown today that he has taken that next step up.
As he was at Sandown on debut, Daggers was a little slow into stride but quickly recovered to take the lead ahead of Polyglots.
Daggers travelled sweetly in front and when Currie asked the colt for an effort he extended nicely.
“He’s got a great turn of foot, a great pedigree and that good Arrowfield brand on his shoulder, so that always improves them a couple of lengths,” Young said.
“I’m excited with this horse, and it keeps the dream alive for a good one in the spring.”
With the Run To The Rose the next likely option, that race is likely to determine to spring shape for Daggers.
The Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 28 may follow the Run To The Rose which could determine whether Daggers is stretched out to 1600m of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas or whether he is freshened for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
“We’ll talk to Luke and the owners and see what they want to do, but I think that will be a great path,” Young said of a run in the Run To The Rose.
“He’ll get 1400 (metres) from what I’ve seen on the track, but his pedigree suggests the mile might be a little bit of a question mark, that’s why we might go down the Golden Rose path.”
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