Hometown Heroes Win Wangoom

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday April 30

The Warrnambool carnival might celebrate the jumping horses, but the $200,000 Listed Colin McKenna Wangoom Handicap (1200m) is always a highlight with victory this year going to a five year-old gelding by much missed Victorian sire Magnus.

DAshing iwns the $200,000 Wangoom Handicap - image Reg Ryan/ Racing Photos

Trained on the track by Aaron Purcell, Dashing was well backed to win at his first run back from a spell and was too good for Tom Madden in scoring by half a length.

It was the first stakes win for a tough and gritty performer that has the overall record of seven wins and 14 placings from 34 starts with prizemoney just shy of $840,000.

"At the start of the preparation, it wasn't really on the cards (but) there wasn't really any other logical start-off points," said Aaron Purcell.

"He's a bit awkwardly rated in the 90s, so the options for him are a bit slim. He seemed to be going better than ever and the closer we got to the race, he just seemed so well.

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"He always runs well, so we knew he'd be in the finish somewhere. Fantastic for Tom to give him a really good steer and get the job done."

Dashing has been a great investment for his owners - image Racing Photos

Dashing was a $75,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) / G1 Goldmine from the Edinburgh Park draft and has been gold for his happy owners.

Dashing is the best of three winners from Westchester, a metro winning Reset mare from a European female family that has also produced Group I winner Lord of Men.

Dashing is the 31st stakes-winner for Magnus, who passed away in 2023.

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Race Result - The Midfield Group Colin McKenna Wangoom Hcp LR 1200m

Warrnambool Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:13.53
1
Dashing
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Westchester (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: Aaron Purcell Rdr: Tom Madden 55.5
2
0.5
Fortunate Kiss
- 6m Divine Prophet (AUS) x Kiss Me Goodbye (AUS) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: L Kennewell & L Yeomans Rdr: Jamie Melham 54
3
1.8
Dubai Poet
- 6g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Hundi (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Hickmott Rdr: J Bowditch 55
4
3.3
Marble Nine
- 4g Kobayashi (AUS) x Aura Lee (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: L & T Corstens & W Larkin Rdr: H Coffey 54
5
3.5
Hedged
- 4g Capitalist (AUS) x Acing Shamrock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B Melham 57.5
6
4.3
Title Fighter
- 4g Lean Mean Machine (AUS) x If Not Now When (AUS) (Artie Schiller (USA))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: D Moor 54
7
5
Romantic Choice
- 4m Toronado (IRE) x Choice Sunday (AUS) (Duporth (AUS))
Tnr: Tom Dabernig Rdr: Declan Bates 54
8
6.5
Home Rule
- 7g Rebel Raider (AUS) x Spiriticity (AUS) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell Rdr: L Currie 54
9
7.3
Dothraki
- 7g Dalghar (FR) x Honor And Cherish (NZ) (Coats Choice (AUS))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: D Yendall 54
10
9
Luna Cat
- 6m Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Gauze (AUS) (Ad Valorem (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Celine Gaudray 54
11
12.8
Taunting
- 6g Brazen Beau (AUS) x Probationary (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Hickmott Rdr: B Shinn 58.5
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