Trainer John Meagher unearthed a handy sprinter in Dictator, an impressive debut winner of the $65,000 Restricted Maiden Stakes over 1100m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
Not only did Dictator, ridden by Soo Khoon Beng, score by a widening 10-1/4 lengths, he stopped the clock at 1 min 04.91 secs, just 0.1 seconds outside the course record set by Tumbulgum.
Meagher said he felt before the race that Dictator was capable of running a good race but was wary of the favourite.
“I didn’t think we could beat the favourite, so I certainly didn’t expect him to win like that,” said Meagher of the 10-1/4 length victory.
“I thought he could run a good race, but after that he might have a bit of a future up here.”
Dictator was recommended to Meagher by Brisbane form expert Peter Bredhauer who spotted the son of Tycoon Ruler as the winner of a 600m trial.
“He came up to us from Brisbane as a trial winner,” said Meagher. “Peter Bredhauer recommended him and said he would be a winner up here.
“Look there is not much of him, but he’s a runner and he’s done a good job winning here today.
“He’s purely a sprinter and hopefully he will keep developing.”
Dictator is an Australian bred three-year-old from the Irgun mare Bella Fuse and was passed in as a yearling for A$5000.
Following Sunday’s success he has returned owner Donna Lansdown around $35,000 in prizemoney with the promise of more to follow judging on the victory.