Striking looking chestnut Dalasan rated through the roof when he defeated the subsequent Group I winner Scales Of Justice in the Group III Spring Stakes at Morphettville and that form worked out well for Saturday's Group II Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
After winning his first two starts at Morphettville last season at two, the son of Dalakhani (IRE) lost his unbeaten record when narrowly beaten in the Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington in March and was put away for a break.
Raquel Clark missed the ride when Dalasan was luckless in the VRC Sires' Produce but she is a perfect four for four on the Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained colt.
Always in a striking position Dalasan came off the bit when chasing down the frontrunning Dubious but a couple of backhander by Clark to keep his mind on the job, Dalasan was strong late to defeat Dubious (Not A Single Doubt) by three-quarters of a length with Express Pass (Wandjina) the same distance back in third. (images Grant Courtney)
"He's a professional in his own right, very green still but he's just got so much ability," Clark said.
"It's amazing and I've got Leon and my family to thank, they're my biggest supporters and I'm just so happy I could have got the job done today."
Macdonald
said Dalasan will have his next start in the $250,000 Group III Caulfield
Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 29 ahead of the $2 million G1 Ladbrokes
Caulfield Guineas (1600m) a fortnight later.
"He was a bit lost up the straight, but he overcame that and I'm sure it's onwards and upwards from here as he'll get better with a bit of racing," Macdonald said.
An $80,000 Inglis Premier purchase for his trainers from the Mill Park draft, Dalasan was bred by the SA based Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust and is the second winner from stakes-placed Kitten's Joy (USA) mare Khandallah, who comes from an international family featuring Group winners Galic Boy, Smokey Stover and Dreadnaught.
Mill Park sold a colt by Dissident from Khandallah at Inglis Premier this year for $110,000 and the mare has foaled this spring already producing a filly by So You Think.
Dalasan is one of 53 stakes-winner worldwide for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and French Derby winner Dalakhani (IRE), who shuttled to Cornerstone Stud for three seasons.
