First to salute was two year-old Fastnet Rock gelding Super Dragon, a $170,000
Inglis Ready 2Race purchase from the draft of Princes Farm.He improved sharply at his second run, finding the line strongly for Brett Prebble to claim a narrow short head win in the 1200 metre griffin race.
Super Dragon is a full brother to Group II winner Empress Rock and is the third winner for Empress Jade, a half-sister by Encosta de Lago to the great Hong Kong champion Silent Witness and Group II winner Sister Madly.
Winning the very next race was three year-old Encosta de Lago gelding Fantasticlife, a half-brother to Group I HK International Sprint winner Absolute Champion and dual South African Group I winner Wylie Hall.
It was the first win in 10 starts for Fantasticlife, who took the 1400 metre event by a head with Joao Moreira in the saddle.
Fantasticlife was a $120,000 Magic Millions purchase for Apollo Ng from the Newhaven Park draft and is the eighth winner from eight foals to race from terrific producer Beauty Belle.
Beauty Belle is due to foal to Wylie Hall's sire Redoute's Choice this spring.
Creating a big impression with an easy three length debut win for John Size and
Joao Moreira was three year-old Redoute's Choice gelding Thewizardofoz.Well fancied to win, Thewizardofoz was eased back from a wide gate to find some cover albeit still travelling deep and when set alight in the straight quickly gathered in his rivals and bounded clear for an impressive win in the 1200 metre contest.
Bred by Evergreen Rich, Thewizardofoz is the second winner for Champion NZ 3YO Filly Princess Coup, a four-time Group I winning daughter of Encosta de Lago.
Evergreen Stud sold a Fastnet Rock colt from Princess Coup at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for 650,000 and the mare is due to foal this spring to Snitzel.
