Widely-travelled galloper Dothraki has booked a return trip to the Melbourne spring carnival after a first-up victory in the LR City Tatts Lightning (1100m) at Randwick.
The Mossman sprinter won the LR Hilton Hotels Stakes at Flemington two years ago and trainer Peter Snowden has locked in the G2 Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) down the straight on Victoria Derby day.
“You beauty! It was a thrilling finish,” Snowden said after Dothraki defeated stablemate That’s A Good Idea by a neck. “He was forward enough to win after a couple of trials and now we’re looking to Melbourne.”
Dothraki (5g Mossman – Volantis by Flying Spur) claimed his fourth black-type race on Saturday but it was the first on home turf. He had also won the G3 Gold Coast Guineas and G3 Anniversary Stakes on the road in Queensland.
“I thought he was going to win easily when we loomed up in the straight,” jockey Tye Angland explained. “But That’s A Good Idea dug deep and fought it out to the finish.”
Triple Crown Syndications bought Dothraki for $45,000 from Baramul Stud at the 2012 Magic Millions National Sale. The Lightning improved his record to 6 wins in 23 starts for over $680,000 in prizemoney.
Mossman stands for a $27,500 (inc gst) fee at Vinery and his champion sprinter Buffering returns to Moonee Valley this Friday night in a bid to reprise his 2013 victory in the G1 Manikato Stakes.
