MACH DAN as Lot 65 during last year's Ladbrokes Australian Pacing Gold Sale Photo by Ashlea Brennan
LAST year’s top priced colt made the perfect start to his career in Swan Hill last night.
Racing as Mach Dan, the youngster was purchased as Lot 65 during the 2018 Melbourne Ladbrokes Australian Pacing Gold Sale.
With prominent owner Danny Zavitsanos parting with $100,000, the son of Mach Three and Bettor Give It was the highest priced colt of the day.
Pleased with the two-year-old’s progress, trainer Emma Stewart expects Mach Dan to improve with experience.
“I quite like him,” Stewart said. “He has done everything right so far and gives the impression he will develop into a nice type.
“He’s still learning as he goes along but will be better for that run.”
Driven by Chris Alford, Mach Dan began quickly to lead from barrier two before being eased to take a trail behind Yianni.
Angled into the sprint lane during the latter stages, Mach Dan reclaimed the lead in the last stride to score by a neck from the pacemaker, with Premonition a metre-and-a-half away third in 1:58.7 over 1750 metres.
“That was a nice run for his debut,” Stewart said. “It was pleasing to see him show a bit of gate speed and then settle in the run before finishing it off like he did.”
With no specific immediate plans for the freshman, Stewart has earmarked the rich APG race series in May as Mach Dan’s first major target.
“At this stage I will just find another suitable race and go from there,” Stewart said. “The APG is what we are working him towards.”
