They don't come much more consistent than the Mark Newnham-trained Dragonstone, who credited the former Arrowfield shuttler Mikki Isle (JPN) with his first Australian stakes-winner in Saturday's Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (100m) at Randwick.
It was the second attempt at stakes level for Dragonstone, whose previous attempt resulted in his lone off-the-board finish in 12 starts when ninth in the Listed Fireball Stakes at Rosehill, won by the future Group 1 Doomben 10000 winner Mazu.
After chasing Godolphin's talented Snitzel gelding home on heavy tracks at Canterbury7 and Randwick, Dragonstone ventured to Melbourne at his most recent start. He may have run into another potential top-liner in Fastnet Rock's unbeaten Passive Aggressive.
Dragonstone was not gifted his maiden stakes success. With Tom Sherry in the saddle, the 3yo son of Mikki Isle (JPN) came with a rattling finish from near last to defeat Prime Candidate (Denman) by one and three-quarter lengths with Mamaragan (Wandjina)
"He is a wonderful little horse," Newnham said.
"He has been ever consistent. He has only missed a place once in his life.
"He has run into a few really nice types along the way, but he never performs poorly.
"This is actually only his second run on a good track, and he has won them both. So, as well as he does handle those wet tracks, he is probably more effective with his turn of foot on this type of ground."
With his maiden stakes success, Dragonstone advances his record to four wins, five seconds and two from 12 starts with earnings of $395,125.
Holbrook Thoroughbreds consigned the son of Mikki Isle (JPN) to the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Highway Session, where he failed to make his $65,000 reserve.
Bred by Forest Lodge, Dragonstone is the second live foal and the second winner out of the Shamardal (USA) Quick's The Word, who kickstarted her racetrack career with three wins at Gosford, Kembla Grange and Canterbury.
Trained by Bjorn Baker, Quick's The Word did not win again, although she was runner-up four times in a 14-start career.
Knocked down to Magic Millions for $64,000 at the 2012 National Broodmare Sale, Quick's The Word is a granddaughter of the Group II VRC Maribyrnong Plate and Group III VATC Debutante Stakes winner Catchfire (Century) from the famed Contract Racing family of River Dove and Headwater.
Quick's The Word has an unraced 2yo filly by Pariah named Storm's End.
Mark Newman purchased her Headwater colt for $85,000 from the Valiant lodge draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Quick's The Word was not covered after foaling a Cosmic Force colt last spring.
Deep Impact's dual Group 1 winning son Mikki Isle (JPN) shuttled to Arrowfield Stud for three seasons, the last in 2019.
