Evergreen Dothraki does it again

Written by Paul Vettise

Sprinting marvel Dothraki (Mossman) has been an outstanding servant of the Snowden stable, even though he’s frustrated them on more than once occasion. His CV features multiple black type victories, although a major prize has eluded him.

“At times I’ve wanted to choke him,” Peter Snowden said. “He should have won a Group 1 and he just got pipped, but it is great to see an older horse like him racing so well.”

He was speaking in the wake of Dothraki’s tenacious victory in Saturday’s G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington. Experience was a telling factor in the race with the 7-year-old First Among Equals (Exceed And Excel) taking second money.

Reversal of form

Dothraki was making the second appearance of his current campaign and turned his form around after failing to flatter in his season opener in the G3 Heath at Caulfield.

“He can do that first-up,” said Snowden, who trains with his son Paul. “He’s raced flat like that before, even though he was working well.”

Dothraki has been to the races on 47 occasions, but was ridden for the first time by Damian Lane who was immediately won over by the chestnut.

“He’s just a gentleman and does everything properly, he’s great,” he said. “The stable said they were really happy and had improved his fitness with his first-up run.”

Dothraki tucked in behind the pace and he drove determinedly to line for the eighth win of his career. “I cuddled him up for as long I could and when I let him go he kept sticking his head out.”

Pedigree Notes

Dothraki is the fourth foal of Volantis (Flying Spur) and by far the best of her four winners. The dam is a half-sister to Simonstad (Volksraad {NZ}), who was a more than useful sprinter and won six races, including the G3 Sir Rupert Clarke S.

Her third dam is Lilt (NZ) (Faux Tirage {GB}) and she was another short course performer of note and won the G1 Railway H. Another family member is Special Mission (NZ) (Towkay) won the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.