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
Racing in the original well-known colours of Emirates Park, Adrian Bott was quick to thank the racing empire for allowing them to be patient with the horse.
“He came back last preparation and obviously we had a few goals for him there in the spring. But he was disappointing for us first up, so we had to go back to the drawing board, which included today’s race.
“I think he has just come back a different horse, he’s been really settled.
“He’s always had a great turn of foot and we’ve been able to see that today that he’s been able to settle.
“For whatever reason he’s back in the right frame of mind now this campaign and can really go on with it from here.”
“He’s a phenomenally bred horse, so you’re so thankful to be able to get the opportunity when we got the call-up and got asked if we would like to train this horse when he was brought down from Europe.
“We had had a bit of luck with the progeny of Frankel and obviously still being an entire, still an important career ahead and out of a very good mare, hopefully there’s a lot more to come from him.
“We’re only just beginning. But he’s an exciting horse.”
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