HERE'S A HORSE WHO LIKES TO WIN IN AUGUST

MONDAY: August 22, 2022: THERE’S something about the start of a new season and Hawkesbury gelding Dragon’s Shadow!

The now eight-year-old made it six wins in the month of August when successful at Bathurst today for his trainer Karen Outtrim.

In fact, his seven career victories have nearly always been this month, as his other was July 27 last year at Cowra.

Little wonder Dragon’s Shadow’s trainer ensures he is always in work at this time of the year. Outtrim, having previously purchased horses from Thing Big Stud, where the gelding was born, paid only $5000 for him as an early two-year-old at the 2016 Inglis Ready2Race sale.

He is the fifth foal of the now deceased Carnegie mare Northbourne Avenue, who raced only twice before being retired to stud.

At only his second start, Dragon’s Shadow (whose sire Pendragon won dual Group 3s for Bart Cummings, and also was runner-up in the 2005 Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, 2000m at Royal Randwick) won a 1500m Hawkesbury Maiden at $201 on August 3, 2017.

Further August victories have followed in 2019 (twice, at Canberra and Bathurst), 2020 (Mudgee), and exactly 12 months ago, at Bathurst.

That was in a Benchmark 58 Handicap at 2000m – and Dragon’s Shadow’s victory today was exactly the same grade, distance and weight (59kg); the only change being Quayde Krogh was the rider, and not Mathew Cahill.

Krogh was patient on the gelding, then took him wider on the track in the straight and he finished off determinedly to put paid to his rivals.

Dragon’s Shadow ($6.50) beat Wilshire Boulevard ($10) and $2.25 favorite Deel Street to lift his earnings to almost $143,000, including a BOBS bonus.

“He has been a terrific horse to us, especially being only a small stable,” Outtrim said en route home.

“Importantly, he is sound with no issues.

“Dragon’s Shadow loves the Bathurst 2000m and a heavy track, so we had a bit going for us today.

“And Quayde gave him a great ride. He had a game plan, and it paid off.”

Krogh had previously ridden a winner for Outtrim, on Hidden Ace in November, 2019. No prizes for guessing it was also at Bathurst!

. Outtrim has six horses in work at present; an all-time high as she puts it.

“But it won’t last much longer as a couple will go out shortly,” she said.

. Dragon’s Shadow was Hawkesbury’s 15th winner in the opening month of the new season.