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Ex-pat kiwi jockey Michael Dee scored his biggest career victory when he kicked home the Lloyd Williams owned Foundry in Saturday’s Gr. 1 The Metropolitan at Royal Randwick.
Dee, who commenced his career in New Zealand, rode 107 winners as an apprentice with the Kevin Myers stable before transferring to Mick Price at Caulfield in 2015. He enjoyed early success in Melbourne where his first major winner was Churchill Dancer in the Gr. 2 Bobbie Lewis Stakes while he also won a Scone Cup on Duca Valentinois.
However, leading in to Saturday’s meeting Dee had yet to taste success at Group One level with his best result being a third on Allergic in the corresponding event in 2016 as well as finishing runner-up on Rising Red in the 2017 New Zealand Derby.
Dee was of the belief he could go break his hoodoo in Saturday’s contest and so it proved as he provided the former European galloper Foundry with a perfect run in transit before outstaying his rivals in the concluding stages of the 2400 metre event.
“I still can’t believe it as it really hasn’t sunk in yet,” was Dee’s reaction when questioned the day after the victory.
“I spoke to my parents straight after the race and they are pretty stoked about it as well.
“It means everything as this is what every jockey dreams of so you can’t get better than that.”
A natural lightweight in the saddle, Dee credits that asset as the reason for obtaining the ride on Foundry.
“Being able to ride at 50.5 kilograms was the key as Lloyd Williams’ racing manager rang me and asked me if I could get to that weight,” he advised
“I expected that I could do it and got to it quite easily.
“If you can ride light it opens up plenty of opportunities even at just normal Saturday meetings.”
Dee is now looking forward to continuing his association with Foundry who holds nominations for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
“Going forward I don’t want to be on anything else as he showed he is just a true out and out stayer,” he said.
“The further he goes the better he gets.”
Foundry currently sits at 59th on the order of entry for the Gr. 1 Caulfield Cup on 21 October but will move well up the rankings after his success on the weekend. – NZ Racing Desk