The Peak is the first of Pendragon’s progeny to race in Hong Kong and he showed all the attributes of a performer who will make his mark in the Asian racing hub. Under the direction of jockey Douglas Whyte he jumped well to settle comfortably in behind the leaders, loomed up when asked to take the front early in the straight and then held his rivals at bay.

On the line The Peak was holding his rivals by a neck but Whyte appeared to be well in control of the race with his charge accounting for race-hardened rivals at his maiden appearance.

Fellow ‘home bred’ Liveandletdie (pictured right) was equally as dynamic at Flemington 24 hours earlier when reminded rivals he is on track to again be a player in some of Australia’s better sprints. At his first run in 2012 the entire overcame a chequered run to burst between rivals and score a memorable first-up win.

The Heron Bridge Handicap (1200m) was the fifth victory for the four-year-old son of Street Cry in only 13 career starts and lifted his earnings to over $276,000.

The win was little surprise to trainer Mark Kavanagh and owner Laurence Eales with Liveandletdie having showed his liking for the straight track in 2011 when racing away with the Listed Creswick Stakes under the same conditions.

The manner of yesterday’s display is likely to see Liveandletdie given his chance in better contests and Kavanagh holds a nomination for him in the $1 million G1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m). With three wins from four attempts over the Flemington straight 1200m the chestnut deserves his chance in Australia’s richest sprint.

Trainer Matthew Smith has long indicated that the lightly raced four-year-old has his share of ability and it was certainly in display yesterday when his charge rattled home from last early in the straight, some 12 lengths off the leaders, to record an eye-catching win.

Further success is certainly in store judging by the manner of the gelding’s finishing display especially if he continues to be stepped up in distance.

A $50,000 purchase from the 2009 Easter Yearling Sale, the Think Big Stud home bred is a product of the unrated sire Reset and our imported stakes-placed mare Authoress.

Star of Camelot, affectionately known as 'Penny' (seen right during her breaking in phase), won the 800m trial for two-year-old fillies by a neck under heavy conditions. Her time of 48.6 seconds was just a touch faster than stakes winner Red Tracer won an open trial over the same distance earlier in the day.

 
The John Size-trained The Peak will soon be ready to climb through the grades after his forward display in a Sha Tin barrier trial yesterday.

In his second trial, the three-year-old Private Purchase Griffin jumped perfectly and hit the ground running for Mark du Plessis, showing surprising speed.

The gelding led all the way in his 800m heat, under a steady hold, carving out an opening 400m sectional of 24.5 and finishing off in 22.2, as he stretched out nicely.

The Peak (seen as a foal in the photo to the right) held off fellow unraced three-year-old Davin, with the Peter Ng Bik-kuen-trained runner niggled at by Ben So Tik-hung to keep touch.

The ever improving filly became the first winner for Pendragon who has already been represented by a selection of promising classic types.

Yurrapendi showed good gate speed yesterday to lead out the 12 strong field in the early stages before being joined by a number of rivals. Pressured early in the straight she pulled clear of the pack with runner-up Nissile and when shaken up by jockey Grand Buckley responded willingly to kick away and score by a widening three-quarters of a length.

“Yurrapendi made good progress from her debut performance into this race and today’s win was well deserved,” said James Cummings, stable foreman for Leilani Lodge.

“She is still learning her craft but she showed good early speed and, importantly, she showed she can close out a race today.”

Stablemate Dragonzone will be Pendragon’s flag-bearer at Warwick Farm this coming week after his determined last start display at Kembla Grange. The talented three-year-old was caught wide throughout but refused to relent and was only snared in the last bound by Fallen One who was only touched out from the placings of yesterday’s Listed Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield.

The lightly raced mare annexed the Listed Epona Stakes, was runner-up in the Listed JRA Plate and finished a game fifth in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over the Sydney Autumn Carnival and now may head to Melbourne for further honours this spring where she holds an entry for the Melbourne Cup.

Galizani was a jointly bred by Think Big Stud and Kia Ora Stud and sold under the Kia Ora banner when changing hands at the 2008 Inglis Easter Yearling Sales for $140,000. Yesterday’s success ensure the quality stayer comfortably eclipsed that purchase price and from only 15 starts there is every reason to believe the best may still be ahead of her.

Zahani has a Pendragon yearling colt and is currently in foal to the same promising stallion.

In a performance as courageous and game as ever Australasia’s champion performer refused to let supporters down in the richest race in the United Kingdom and was only eclipsed after drawing a career best performance and a new course record out of French raider Cirrus Des Aigles.

It was the second occasion in as many starts that So You Think has shone brightly in a time honoured event run in course record time. Only a fortnight ago it was the underrated Danedream who set a new mark in the Prix de’l Arc de Triomphe in which So You Think flew late for an unlucky fourth.

In seven career starts across Ireland, England and France So You Think has never failed to front, winning on four occasions and finishing runner-up twice. His only unplaced performance was his Arc display which was acknowledged as partially pilot error.

The ability of So You Think to carry his dominance from last year’s spring carnival to Europe is a heady endorsement of the entire’s abilities and durability. Additionally, it franks the talents of Australian and New Zealand’s elite to perform on the world stage over an extended period.