Chadwick profits from following Cruz's instructions to the letter

Four winners in four meetings in the latest update to the adventures of Matthew Chadwick, as the gifted Chinese apprentice racked up his first trophy race on Special Dragon for his boss, Tony Cruz, in the Pok Oi Cup (1,800m).

The five-year-old Zabeel gelding made it three wins from 10 starts with a solid staying display, showing he might soon add to the legend of his dam, the outstanding broodmare Foreign Copy, whose earlier foals by Zabeel include Group winners Cronus and Pravda. Another sister, Milliyet, is the dam of Australian champion three-year-old filly Samantha Miss (by Redoute's Choice).

This feature race was determined at Class Three level, so Special Dragon will have to wait for his turn to join the family's black-type clan, but Cruz believes it's only a matter of time.

'I was very pleased with this win today because the horse hasn't had a lot of luck lately,' Cruz said. 'He's been missing the start slightly, and from inside barriers that's been a problem - he's been getting cluttered up in the field and hasn't been able to stride along.

'He's a big strider and I think he'll stay all day so I was pleased when he drew a wide barrier. That allowed Matthew the space to work his way around the field and let him roll.'

Chadwick followed his mentor's instructions to the letter and Special Dragon enjoyed way the teenager let him bowl along on a long rein.