DRAGONS WILL RISE. 02 April 2016. Dragon Pulse-Jaldini Owner-The Golden Cuckoo.
Dragons Will Rise has taken a lot longer to come to hand, and also for the penny to drop, than expected.He was the yards last winner before racing's lock down was put in place, winning at Newcastle on March 10th, 2020, with the promise of much more to come.He is by the high class miler Dragon Pulse, out of an unraced Darshaan mare, making him a half brother to the four times listed winner Jalmira, who achieved a Racing Post Rating of 109.
Dragons Will Rise didn't make his juvenile debut until August 2018 at Redcar, where he ran very green,only beating two home, under Michael Stainton. Badly in need of experience, he made a quick reappearance at Pontefract a week later, this time finishing eight of the nine runners.On his third start at Catterick, in September, he finished forth of the seven, showing a little more on that occasion, and earning a handicap mark of 59.His final run as a two year old was in a Redcar nursery, but he lost the race at the start, by leaving the stalls very slowly.
He returned for the start of his three year old career, over a mile at Wetherby, in April 2019, once again he was very sluggish from the stalls.At the same track a month later, he got within five lengths of the winner, finishing sixth of the 13.He raced twice more on the flat, unfortunately making no show on both occasions
Dragons Will Rise made his hurdles debut at Catterick in November,with stamina always being the big issue, he was never in contention, but as he gets older, and gains more experience, he may have another crack at it, at a later date.
He made his all weather debut at Newcastle in February, and for the first time in his career, looked like he was capable of winning a race.He was beaten a length in to third place over a mile, under Graham Lee, after being denied a clear run, but staying on strongly, and 11 days later, over the same course and distance, he picked up willingly when asked by champion all weather jockey Ben Curtis, to win by half a length.That is one of the fascinations of horse racing, because once a horse starts to improve, you never know how far it might take you.
Dragons Will Rise was denied a further run as racing was put in to lock-down,in March 2020, and his summer break came earlier than expected. It was a little over six months until he reappeared again in September at Hamilton, and under a considerate ride from Graham Lee, he finished seventh of the 14 runners, beaten by five and a quarter lengths, in a race which would help to put him spot on in fitness for his return to the all weather.At Newcastle seven days later, when stepping up to 10 furlongs for the first time, and with Robert Havlin riding for the stable for the first time, he won his second race, in comfortable fashion off a mark of 51. It was five weeks until his next appearance, for his first visit to Wolverhampton, from a 3lb higher mark, which looked generous, Robert Havlin once again confidently steered him to victory.His latest run was in December back at Wolverhampton, and on this occasion he was sent off at even money. This time things didn't pan out quite as well, and he had to make his effort on the final turn in to the straight, costing him ground, but he did run on encouragingly all the way to the line. TO BE CONTINUED.