Sandown Winner for Dissident

Switched to Melbourne after two midfield finishes in Sydney metropolitan races, promising two year-old Dissident gelding Pancho relished the heavy ground and hit the line hard to break his maiden at Sandown on Wednesday.

Stepping out to 1400 metres, the Chris Waller trained Pancho was strong to the line to win by a short head becoming the fifth first crop winner for Australian Horse of the Year, Dissident.

Bred by Sledmere Stud, Pancho made $150,000 as a weanling at the Magic millions National Sale when bought by Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA)/Newgate Farm and was then ere-offered by Newgate at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale fetching $165,000 to the bid of Laurel Oak Bloodstock.

Pancho is the first winner for Group III placed Written Tycoon mare Novel Dancer, who is now in foal to another young Newgate sire in Russian Revolution.

Already the sire of two stakes horses in Challa and Foxborough, Dissident stands at Newgate at a fee of $27,500.