Denis Pagan and Lachie King take centre stage with Johnny Get Angry in Victoria Derby

Mark Smith - Saturday October 31

It was an emotional first winner at the highest level for owner/trainer Denis Pagan and apprentice jockey  Lachie King when the Tavistock gelding Johnny Get Angry proved himself the best stayer in Saturday’s $2,000,000 Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

A maiden no more Johnny Get Angry (Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

A maiden in six starts for the former AFL premiership-winning coach, Johnny Get Angry fought like a tiger down the length of the straight to defeat the luckless Dundeel colt Hit The Shot by a length with the favoured Tavistock gelding Young Werther a short-neck back in third.

Advertisement

Johnny Get Angry is the first horse Pagan has trained and he said it was ten times better feeling than coaching a premiership.

 “I am lost for words. It is just an amazing feeling,” Pagan said.

&

;

;

;ldq

uo;I had a good lunch yesterday, probably had too much to drink. “I thought I was low key and had handled it, but I can’t have expected this.

“Everyone was telling me I should use a senior jockey, but I wanted to stick with Lachie, who has stuck with me."

Lachie King was no less emotional in emulating his father Steven King, who rode Star of the Realm to win the 1991 Victoria Derby.

“This is fantastic, I am very emotional, it is an amazing feeling,” King said.

“We thought he could win today. Everything went to plan. It’s a fairytale. I just have to thank Dennis, he is the best thing to happen to my career.   

“I thought I was going too good and got there too early. Dad said patience, patience, try and buy as much time as you can. I thought I would have to time it right because I knew Ollie (Damien Oliver) would pull something out. When I let him down he exploded for me with the blinkers on.”

Purchased by Malua Racing / Flemington Bloodstock for $50,000 out of the Bradbury Park draft at the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Johnny Get Angry was bred by Australian breeder Greg Perry and is the lone winner from three foals to race out of the Zabeel mare Luminova who hails from the family of Group 1   South Australian Derby winner Markham (Salieri).

Johnny Get Angry becomes the 23rd stakes-winner and sixth Group 1 winner for Cambridge Studs ill-fated Tavistock.

The Tavistock – Zabeel cross has proven to be lethal.

The 2015 Victoria Derby winner Tarzino, the Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks winner Toffee Tongue, and the Group 1 The Hong Kong Gold Cup winner Werther are by Tavistock out of Zabeel mares while the ATC Derby hero Tavago is out of a Stravinsky mare who is out of a Zabeel mare.

An $85,000 Magic Millions Yearling, Luminova has a yearling colt by Almanzor (FR) and was covered by Reliable Man (GB) last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - Aami Victoria Derby Gr1 2500m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 2:41.91
1
Johnny Get Angry
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Luminova (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Denis Pagan Rdr: Lachlan King 57
2
1.0
Hit The Shot
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Tang (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Fred W Kersley 57
3
1.2
Young Werther
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Romantic Time (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 57
4
1.5
Cherry Tortoni
- 3g Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Tortoni (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Egan 57
5
2.2
Let's Karaka Deel
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Tegwin (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 57
6
2.5
Token Spirit
- 3c Wandjina (AUS) x Miss Keepsake (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Damian Lane 57
7
5.0
Albarado
- 3c Savabeel (AUS) x O'Fille (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: M Zahra 57
8
5.2
Cetshwayo
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Haraka (AUS) (Foreplay (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Jamie Kah 57
9
7.0
Wisaka
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Sarvon (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: B Melham 57
10
7.5
Tour Of Duty
- 3c Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Rippled (GB) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
11
8.5
Redwood Shadow
- 3g Redwood (GB) x Prickley Princess (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jye McNeil 57
12
8.9
Wertheimer
- 3g Tavistock (NZ) x Wild About Me (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: J Bowman 57
13
10.9
Kenzan
- 3g Adelaide (IRE) x Canelot (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Moor 57
14
11.6
Born To Succeed
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Miss Match (ARG) (Indygo Shiner (USA))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: M J Walker 57
More Reading...
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.