Iver Bridge Lad wins Dragon Stakes for Ryan

Report: Sandown, Friday

Foundation Developments Dragon Stakes (Listed) 5f, 2yo

IVER BRIDGE LAD defied a market drift before the off to get the better of Windsor Castle Stakes third Di Stefano at Sandown on Friday.

Trained by John Ryan, Iver Bridge Lad pulled hard and was slightly outpaced through the early stages under jockey Marc Halford.

Mdawee made the running before drifting alarmingly right across the track to the nearside rail and being passed by Absolute Music and gambled-on Little Perisher.

 

But as the front-runners faltered both Iver Bridge Lad and Di Stefano, who raced against the favoured far side rail, went to the fore with 14-1 shot Iver Bridge Lad showing the greater fight to land the spoils.

Di Stefano, the 15-8 joint-favourite, was second for Mick Channon and jockey Darryll Holland, while Angel's Pursuit, the other 15-8 joint-favourite, was another runner outpaced early before staying on for third.

Mick Ryan, father of winning trainer John Ryan, said: "It was a nice performance, terrific, he did it really well.

"I didn't really think he'd win but he's progressed, progressed, progressed to say the least."

He added: "He's tough and puts his head down and like Marc [Halford, jockey of Iver Bridge Lad] said I think he'll get a bit further."