Night Agent impresses with commanding Randwick victory
With a masterful ride from James McDonald, Night Agent enjoyed the perfect run to claim an easy victory in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick.
Trainer Kris Lees had initially earmarked the Provincial Championships for Night Agent in the upcoming autumn. However, the colt's decisive Randwick triumph has prompted the trainer to reconsider his plans.
"We were thinking the Provincial Championships but hopefully he is too good for that,'' Lees remarked. "It was a really good win and a magnificent ride by James Mcdonald. "I was guarded about whether to run the horse early in the week but he came into barrier 10 after scratchings. "James came out and said he would be one-one (one out and one back), I was happy with that and that's where he was."
Lees continued, "It was a dominant win and we might look at getting him ready for the Silver Eagle on Everest Day (October 17)."
Sent off at $4.40, Night Agent accelerated powerfully in the home straight to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. The unfortunate Unleeshing ($4), who encountered traffic issues, finished strongly to grab second right on the line, just ahead of the front-runner Castlejohn ($4.40).
James McDonald described Night Agent as a horse still developing. "He's still doing a few things wrong but he's a very nice horse and will only continue to improve,'' McDonald stated.
The four-year-old has surprised Lees with his strong return this spring, now boasting four wins from his eight career starts. "We have always had a good opinion of him, he's a nice horse,'' Lees commented. "We may look at the Silver Eagle now. Whether that is aiming a bit high, I don't know but the race is a month away and he likes to have his runs spaced."
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