Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
A brilliant beginning by Mirragon proved the decisive factor in the Victorian-bred five-year-old’s victory at $4.90 in the 2536m Village Kid Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Mirragon, trained by Debra Lewis and driven by her husband Chris, flew out from barrier four and crossed to the front from the $1.90 favourite Shadow Roll, who was driven hard from the No. 1 barrier by Dylan Egerton-Green, but was unable to hold out from Mirragon.
Mirragon, who is also a dashing sit-sprinter, set a solid pace and made life tough for his rivals by covering the final three 400m sections in 28.4sec., 28.4sec. and 28.9sec. He fought on gamely to win by a half neck from $3.70 chance Doc Holliday, who at his first appearance for four months, impressed in running home strongly from fifth (on the pegs) at the bell.
Mirragon was an early developer who, at his fourth start (when prepared by Emma Stewart), won the Group 2 Vicbred Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings over 1720m at Melton in May 2019, rating 1.57.
He raced 33 times in Victoria for seven wins and ten placings before being sold to Luke Montgomery and Mark Lewis to race in WA where his 31 starts have produced eight wins and eight placings. His win on Friday night boosted his earnings to $235,375.
Mirragon, by Art Major, is the first foal out of the Mach Three mare The Waratah, who had 50 starts for six wins, 13 placings and $40,861. The Warath’s half-sister Lady Waratah amassed $564,770 from 20 wins and eight placings from 36 starts, which included four Group 1 successes as a two and three-year-old.