Promising colt Daggers earned a trip to Sydney for the Group II Run To The Rose at Rosehill on September 14 after keeping his record at a perfect two for two when going coast to coast in the Brooks Running AU Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Daggers in full flight (image Grant Courtney)
Ridden by Luke Currie for Tent Busuttin and Natalie Young, the long-striding son of I Am Invincible made full use of his inside barrier to take up the running.
When Currie released the brakes before the home turn, he had the heavily supported Polyglot off the bit before safely holding the challenge of the impressive Geelong maiden winner Stoli Bolli (Deep Field) by one and three-quarter lengths, with Polyglot (Lonhro) hanging on for third.
Daggers was a Breednet ‘One To Watch’ when making a winning debut with a four-length romp over 1300m at Sandown on August 7.
Natalie Young said the strapping colt has been a work in progress since he entered the yard but is beginning to put it together.
“He came out a little awkwardly, but once he gets those first couple of strides, he musters nicely,” Young said.
“He had a great turn of foot and a great pedigree, with that good Arrowfield brand on his shoulder, so that improves them a couple of lengths.
“It keeps the dream alive that we have a good one for the spring.
“He will get to 1400m from what I have seen on the track, but his pedigree suggests a mile might be a question mark so we might go the Golden Rose path.”
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership with GSA Bloodstock, Daggers was a $260,000 purchase by Busuttin Racing from the Arrowfield draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Daggers is a real powerhouse (image Grant Courtney)
He is a half-brother to the stable’s $500,000 Deep Impact (JPN) colt Muramasa, the winner of four of 13 starts highlighted by the Group III MRC Coongy Cup and Group III VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Daggers is the second winner from three to race for the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes winning High Chaparral (IRE) mare Omei Sword, a daughter of Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights, the dam of Northern Hemisphere bred stakes-winners Lipizzaner and Just Steel.
Daggers a $260,000 Inglis Easter yuearling
Omei Sword was a $1,700,000 purchase for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ)/Freyer Bloodstock from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale.
Arrowfield sold a Snitzel yearling colt from Omei Sword at Inglis Easter this year for $875,000 to Rosemont Stud / Chris Waller Racing / Suman Hedge Bloodstock, and she is back in foal to Snitzel after missing in 2022.
