Caulfield trainer John Moloney will bring Dark Ensign to town after a second-up victory at Sale on Thursday.
The Congrats colt settled midfield and had the leaders covered in the straight to score by two lengths in the Duart Homestead Plate (1208m). “He ranged up like a promising horse and won with his ears pricked,” Moloney said. “He was placed first-up at Pakenham and learned a lot from that run.”
Moloney paid $100,000 for Dark Ensign when he was offered by Yallambee Stud at the 2014 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale. His dam Deloraine (More Than Ready) won the LR Hobart Guineas and was also placed in G1 STC Coolmore Classic and G2 MVRC Oaks.
“I’ve trained a couple of winners from the mare,” Moloney added. “She doesn’t throw big horses but this one is a nice animal – he’s her best foal so far on type.”
Dark Ensign is raced by Moloney, Michael Cummins, Geoff Cunningham, Meridy Taite and his breeder Julie Sampson. “It was only a winter maiden but he beat some well-bred youngsters,” Moloney declared. “And he clocked more than a second faster than the other two two-year-old winners on the day.
“We will test him out in Melbourne soon and I think he got a pretty good future.”
Vinery stands his sire Congrats for a $19,800 (inc GST) service fee this year.
