A summer holiday has been the making of Dugan (NZ) and the John Sargent trained two year-old began realising his potential in the LR Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui.

Dugan (2g Darci Brahma – Snipza Gold by Pins) showed early glimpses of his talent before going for a break in January.  He resumed with a placing at Te Rapa and then broke through at Awapuni on May 18 before graduating to a black-type victory on Saturday.

“This time back his efforts have been really good,” stable foreman Hayden Allen said.  “He’s got better with each of the three runs.  He had a great trip and everything went perfectly.”

Sargent was in Brisbane with G2 Eagle Farm Cup winner Quintessential (Fast ‘n’ Famous).

Dugan kept the best of company early in his career including a fourth to Recite at Trentham and a sixth at behind Ruud Awakening at Ellerslie.  Both those winners went on to Group 1 triumphs in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and Ellerslie’s Diamond Stakes respectively.

The Matamata based gelding is out of the a four-time winner Snipza Gold who was also G3 placed in a Stewards Stakes at Riccarton and Darley Plate at Ellerslie.  He was a $60,000 Karaka purchase from last year’s Phoenix Park draft by Victorian-based syndicator Brad Spicer.

Snipza Gold is a half-sister to top-class Perth stayer Bridgestone (Pentire) who was a Listed winner at Ascot as well as being placed in a G1 Western Australian Derby.  The mare foaled another Darci Brahma foal last September and was bred back to him at The Oaks Stud.