Swift Dragon was unfancied in the betting markets but made a mockery of his $19 starting price with a decisive win from race favourite Esperanza, with the previously unbeaten Rockhampton raider Better Blitzem back in third.
Having celebrated his third winner of the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) earlier this year when Dream Roca took out the $1 million contest at Ellerslie, Birchley’s baby boom continued on Queensland’s Glitter Strip as Swift Dragon collected the $300,000 first prize.
The son of unheralded stallion Dracarys had excuses for two plain efforts in the lead-up to Saturday’s $500,000 feature, with Birchley citing a shifty Eagle Farm surface as the culprit, but he was back to his best under regular rider Ryan Wiggins.
“His trial before he came back showed what he could do, but we just didn’t have any confidence in the track first-up,” said Birchley.
“These bigger horses don’t let down on those shifty tracks sometimes and last start it was much the same, but today was a different story. I got a bit worried when it started raining yesterday, but luckily they didn’t get too much. I had full confidence in the horse as long as the track was playing fair and we could get a crack at them.”
The other marquee race on the program was won by Fabulantes, who continued Robert Heathcote’s remarkable record with the gelding’s family when he burst clear in the QTIS Jewel 3YO (1200m).
The full-brother to Heathcote’s Group 1-winning mare Startantes broke through $500,000 in prize money from his 12 career starts after completing a hat-trick of city wins.
His pilot Daniel Moor believes the son of Star Turn could measure up in better company.
“He’s got a ripper turn of foot,” Moor said.
“He was brave when I needed him to be, he gave a really solid kick and it was quite a soft win in the end. I think he could measure up to better races.”
Long-time leader Call Da Vinci finished second for trainer Bevan Laming, with Dragonne Rouge rounding out the minor placings in third.
