Sea air suits Dragonet

Imported Cox Plate winner ‘looking sharp’

COX Plate winner Sir Dragonet cruised through his first appearance of his autumn campaign at Tuesday’s Caulfield jumpouts.

Sir Dragonet headed to the spelling paddock after his solid sixth in the Melbourne Cup, 11 days after winning the Cox Plate at his first start for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Sir Dragonet cruised around towards the rear of his heat on Tuesday morning.

Eustace said the star import was not asked for much but pleased the Victorian stable with his effort.

“He’s come back, we think, a sharper horse and a very enthused horse as well,” Eustace

said. “I couldn’t be happier with him.

“He’s feeling very well in himself.”

Eustace said Sir Dragonet has done much of his early work this time in at Balnarring Beach, which is a change from the former

Irish galloper’s overseas routine.

“He went to Fulmen Park for a break, then he has been at Balnarring since he has been back,” Eustace said.

“The change-up in his training down on the beach is certainly having an effect on him.”

Sir Dragonet will need at least one more jumpout before he resumes racing next month.

Eustace said the son of Camelot could head to the official barrier trials at Geelong on Thursday.

“He will definitely have another one ... then he’ll kick off on the 20th of February,”

Eustace said. “That run will be either in Melbourne or Sydney.”

Sir Dragonet is among the entries for the All-Star Mile at the Valley on March 13 as well as the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington a week earlier.

Ladbrokes has Sir Dragonet as a $7 equal favourite with Arcadia Queen in its opening market for the Australian Cup on March 6.