Bart Cummings has won two of the last five editions of the G1 Queensland Derby and he might have unearthed a third with lightly raced gelding Shen Long.

Bart prepares Shen Long for owner-breeder Dato Tan Chin Nam and the Pendragon three year-old will make a bee-line for Brisbane after breaking through at Kembla Grange on May 1.

Shen Long (3g Pendragon – Geeta by Generous) defeated older rivals with a determined on-pace victory in the Bulmers Peak Cider Plate (2000m).  Bart has always held the winner in high esteem and had no qualms stepping him up in distance just a month after debuting over 1500m at Newcastle.

A hulking gelding, Shen Long has been handled patiently while filling out his considerable frame.  He is named after a spiritual dragon from Chinese mythology who is the master of storms.

Bart won the 2007 Queensland Derby with ill-fated colt Empire’s Choice and the 2010 Queensland Derby with brilliant filly Dariana.

Shen Long’s older half-sister Marheta made a similar meteoric rise as a three year-old.  She won a Sale maiden in March 2010 and within two months claimed the G3 Doomben Roses over 2020m.  The Mike Moroney trained filly followed up with a half-neck second to Miss Keepsake in the G1 Queensland Oaks.

Their dam Geeta (NZ) has since foaled colts by Pendragon, Prince Arthur and High Chaparral.

Unbeaten Hong Kong sprinter The Peak heads the list of 7 individual winners from Pendragon’s first crop.  Trained by John Size, he is three-from-three over 1200m at Sha Tin this year.

Pendragon (NZ) is a son of Danzig’s champion sprinter Elnadim out of NZ G1 Oaks winner Alacrity.  He scored at G3 level for Dato Tan Chin Nam in the STC Gloaming Stakes and MRC Norman Robinson Stakes before retiring to stud after just nine starts.

Pendragon stands for an $10,000 fee at Think Big Stud in NSW and Dato Tan Chin Nam is offering a guaranteed safety net to the breeders of the first 50 mares who support him this year.

For further details of the guarantee can be viewed at:  www.thinkbigstud.com.au