Trainer Matt Dunn admitted he was surprised when his two-year-old Dram Of Red scored a runaway win at his first start on Saturday.
Dram Of Red ($7.50) dashed away in the final 200m to beat Montana Star ($6) by 3-1/4 lengths with 1-1/4 lengths to Libelula ($12) in the Past Roos Association Handicap (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast.
Dunn said Dram Of Red had worked strongly against older horses on Tuesday but he had not expected the gelding to be so dominant at 1200m.
“I have to admit I didn’t think he could bash them up like that,” Dunn said.
“I thought he might have run on strongly to finish fourth, so it was a bit of surprise.”
Dunn is fast becoming a fan of Dram Of Red’s sire Red Element whose progeny also include the trainer’s smart three-year-old Code Noir.
“I think you have to give the Red Elements time to find their feet. They seem to race best that way,” Dunn said.
Dunn isn’t looking too far ahead with Dram Of Red and he will not plan a campaign until he sees how the gelding gets over Saturday’s win.
Former French galloper Highly Gentle ($9) scored his first Australian win when he held on to win the Devcon Building Plate (2200m).
Highly Gentle had three starts in France, winning a two-year-old before being sold to an Australian syndicate headed by Glenlogan Park boss John Haseler.
He trialled in Sydney before being sent to trainer Tony Gollan at Eagle Farm and it was his eighth start for the stable.
“It has been a case of working him out. But he ran well at his previous start and was silly odds today,” stable representative John Fleming said.
