VILANOVA
Former Kiwi colt Vilanova looks poised to shed his Australian maiden tag when he goes around as one of the favourites in Saturday’s Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Warwick Farm.
The son of Commands won once in his homeland, and ran a couple of cracking races in black type company before joining the Chris Waller stable in April.
His autumn/winter campaign took in three starts, all in Brisbane, all in stakes grade, and all of his performances contained plenty of merit.
Vilanova found one better in both the Champagne Classic and Sires’ Produce Stakes, before taking on the cream in the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes over 1600m.
Again, he went down fighting, finishing fourth and only two lengths from the winner.
Vilanova goes into Saturday’s race with just one, very quiet barrier trial under his belt. He finished last of five, given an easy time by jockey Hugh Bowman at Warwick Farm last Friday.
From barrier one, he can take up a position just behind the speed without doing any work and should be presented with every chance to win on Saturday.
DRAGO
Connections of Drago will be hoping the beautiful looking Danehill Dancer colt can start his spring campaign with a win in the Group 3 Up and Coming Stakes on Saturday.
They should go into the race with high expectations, particularly if he has improved over his winter break.
Drago displayed his high level of natural ability, but also his lack of race experience, after bungling the start and finishing off strongly from rearward positions at his first two outings. The fact he was able to hit the line so hard and finish ahead of quality horses in races such as the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce (1400m) highlighted his freakish talent.
He was beaten under a length to be denied his first piece of black type when fourth in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) behind Guelph.
Drago then made light work of his rivals in an 1800m juvenile race at Rosehill in May to register his first win before being spelled.
Drago has had two trials, the latest a fifth of nine over 1030m at Rosehill on Monday against older rivals. He looked good in that hit-out.
There is no question Drago will be suited over further ground than what he will run over on Saturday. However, the way he performed so credibly at Group level at his first three starts, suggests he has more than enough ability to win.
– Racing Network
