Crystal Dreamer cruises home to take out the Sports Handicap
FAVOURITE backers had to wait awhile at Flemington to get a win but Crystal Dreamer delivered a smooth-moving victory in the eighth race on the card.
Been a tough day but that was a great win by CRYSTAL DREAMER down the outside #Flemington for #PedigreePower
— Horse Racing Pros (@horseracingpros) May 6, 2017
Taking the outside run, Andrew Mallyon moved the Simon Zahra-trainer galloper to race just off the back of the front runners on the stand side and “had the race won a long way out” to return $4.60 at WilliamHill.com.au.
.@mallyon_andrew & @ellertonzahra double up as the near rail proves the winning way this time with Crystal Dreamer. https://t.co/Rr2n2w4LYu pic.twitter.com/Q4TZauz2mg
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 6, 2017
Crystal Dreamer out-sprinted Mailbu Style ($2.50 at Sportsbet.com.au) on the outside rail, which battled well to claim second ahead of Husson Eagle, which returned a huge $6.20 at Crownbet.com.au.
Crystal Dreamer’s pilot Andrew Mallyon said he identified early in the piece that the outside was the place to be.
“I think that’s where most of the speed (was),” Mallyon said.
“I got a lovely run in behind them and was able to come in off their backs and move into the race.
“I had it won a long way out.”
Mallyon believes the sprint trip is the ideal journey for Crystal Dreamer. 1000m is a really good distance for him,” the jockey said.
“He relaxes so much better and when he can get that good smoother he’s got a really good turn of foot in the end.”
Crystal Dreamer’s trainer Simon Zahra was full of praise for the jockey in the aftermath of the race.
“All credit to Andrew,” Zahra said.
“Two minutes before the race we changed tactics… (we) let Andrew do what he wanted to do and it looks like it was the winning move.”
Zahra said he is expecting big things in the near future for the four-year-old gelding.
“He’s really starting to learn his trade, this horse,” Zahra said.
“We keep him pretty fresh and don’t do a lot with him, which has probably been the key to him.”