Big Future Ahead Of Son Of Mahler

The future looks bright for The Big Dog (6g Mahler - Saddlers Leader, by Saddlers’ Hall) after justifying favouritism in the two and a half mile maiden hurdle at Gowran Park’s Thyestes meeting.

Beaten just a head last time out, Peter Fahey’s charge was given a positive ride by David Mullins; chasing the leader for much of the way, before asserting on the turn for home. With no threat from his 16 rivals in the straight, the bay extended his advantage to six lengths on the line.

Mullins later told he press that the best was yet to come from the winner, saying, “He's a lot better than he showed there. You'd like to be riding him in a Thyestes some day, he's that sort of horse - he's a three mile chaser, it's just written all over him.”

The Big Dog finished second over three miles on his point-to-point debut for Aidan Fitzgerald and was later sold to current owners Damien and Colin Kelly. Bred by Kevin Neville, he is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Saddlers Encore.