English galloper in Flemington upset
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Saturday, 7 May 2011:
Prominent Sydney owner Richard Pegum may have snared another big race winner following the shock victory of former English galloper December Draw at Flemington.
Pegum, who is a hedge fund manager, bought December Draw at around same time he purchased My Kingdom Of Fife who has won the Group Three Doncaster Mile Prelude, the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Saturday's Group Two Hollindale Stakes at his first three Australian starts.
December Draw was unwanted in betting for his Australian debut in Saturday's AGL Renewable Energy Trophy (1600m) drifting from $18 to $26 and caught trainer Mark Kavanagh off guard.
"Unbelievable," was all Kavanagh could say moments after December Draw scored a hard fought nose win over Under The Hat ($6) and Royal Commands ($15).
December Draw is the first horse Kavanagh has trained for Pegum who co-owns the five-year-old gelding with one of Kavanagh's established owners Gary Towzell.
Kavanagh said My Kingdom Of Fife, trained by Chris Waller, and December Draw arrived in Australia at about the same time and he was unconvinced when Pegum told him he had given him the best horse.
"He is a pretty lucky guy," Kavanagh said.
"He wasn't backward in telling me he knew what sort of horse to pick for Australia and I'm quite happy to agree with him right now."
Kavanagh said December Draw, who had won three of his 16 starts overseas, had worked better than his form suggested.
Of particular concern was that December Draw had finished sixth in the Royal Hunt at Royal Ascot in June last year and hadn't raced since an unplaced run in July.
"I was pretty confident a couple of weeks ago that he would run a big race but then I pulled the form out and Hunt Club form, with all due respect, is not good form," Kavanagh said. 
"However you can only take what you see on face value and he was worth a ticket each way."
Pegum had hoped to win Friday's Wagga Cup but Kingdom Of Fife proved he was much superior to that class and December Draw didn't come up in time.
Kavanagh predicted a bright future for December Draw and said his priority was now to raise his rating which was 72 going into Saturday's race.
"I think there is a bit of improvement in him as he was first up over a mile today," Kavanagh said.
"I had him a little bit loose and a little bit big and I thought he would run out of petrol.
"That was a solid run and he was on the bridle and working the whole time."
"You never know where he is going to go but if you want to push on and look at something a little better down the line you certainly have to get his rating up so he is not going to hit the ballot."
AAP
