Dajraan has produced a brilliant performance to take out the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
From 2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun, the 5-year-old British import had his first Australian start just under 12 months ago and patience has finally paid off for connections with the Frankel entire claiming his first Stakes victory.
Jumping well from barrier 13, Dajraan was settled just behind the leader Cold Crusher by Tim Clarke. Claiming the lead with 200m to go, he powered to the line for the dominant win at $11 odds with online bookmakers.
Travelling third throughout, Mirra Vision ($5) ran home well to finish 0.89-lengths second with Kirwan's Lane ($13) another half a length third.
2022 Festival Stakes Replay
A Group 3 winner of the Canonbury Stakes as a two-year-old, stable representative Darren Beadman was happy to see Zethus find some of his old form this preparation.
“We didn't intend him to be that handy, but it's just the way that the race panned out and Timmy (Clark) was able to make a good executive decision and put him there.
“He's a very fit horse and I think around the corner was the key to him today, he just seemed to race a little bit one paced waiting for a corner at Flemington (last start when finishing sixth in the Listed MSS Security Stakes on November 1) he was very good first up and he's got form behind (The Hunter winner) Vilana last preparation.
“We've always had a really nice opinion of the horse, he's very honest, but I just think that he needed that corner today.
“Everything fell into place for him at Mooney Valley (when winning a Benchmark 84 first up this preparation) and then second up, he was ok, but third up he was just a bit plain.
“But today he got his mojo back and he was right into it.”