Glen Boss has described Sir Dragonet as “a weapon” after he returned to his best with a thumping win in the Tancred Stakes, setting up a Queen Elizabeth Stakes showdown with Verry Elleegant and Addeybb.
Sir Dragonet had been unsuccessful in four runs since capturing the Cox Plate at his Australian debut but tackling Saturday’s Group 1 race seven days after finishing fourth in the Ranvet Stakes proved a masterstroke by trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
“When he came here last spring he was as tight as a drum, he looked like a hunted rabbit,” Boss said.
“When he is tight and ribbed up, that is when he is at his best
“He was a weapon today. He’s a super horse.”
Spirit Ridge took up the front-running roll with Boss happy to settle Sir Dragonet a couple of pairs back off the leader.
He strode to the front midway up the straight and quickly put the race in the bag.
Sir Dragonet (+450 fav) cruised home by 2-1/4 lengths over She’s Ideel (+1200), who ran a great race at her first attempt at weight-for-age, with Miami Bound (+5000) grabbing third.
Ciaron Maher was thrilled to see the import back in the winner’s circle and wasn’t backing away from taking on Verry Elleegant and English star Addeybb again in the Queen Elizabeth in two weeks.
“It will be a good race, put it that way,” Maher said.
“I’m not saying no. On his day, depending on conditions, the more work he does this horse the better he is so the more racing, the deeper into a prep, the better he is.”
Chasing her 15th Group 1 win, Melody Belle got a long way back from her wide draw and made late headway for sixth.