2015 All Aged Stakes Results: Dissident Goes Out A Winner

Dissident will head to stud as a five-time Group 1 winner after he recorded a tough victory over Wandjina in the 2015 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Dissident scored a narrow win over Wandjina in the 2015 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart

Dissident scored a narrow win over Wandjina in the 2015 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart

Jockey Jim Cassidy elected to settle Dissident just outside the leader Wandjina in the early stages of the All Aged Stakes and Tommy Berry elected to punch up on Chautauqua to settle the T.J. Smith Stakes winner fairly close to the speed.

Dissident and Wandjina both looked like sitting ducks when the likes of Chautauqua, Terravista and Lucky Hussler loomed on the outside, but the leading two were locked in an epic battle in the final stages before Dissident prevailed in the shadows of the post to take out the 2015 All Aged Stakes.

Cassidy was given his first opportunity on Dissident this preparation after he steered the Sebring entire to victory in the Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) last year and the veteran hoop was clearly emotional to have scored his second Group 1 victory in as many weeks following the passing of his sister-in-law earlier in the week.

“Clickety clack, the old boy is back,” Cassidy said after the race.

“I love this horse, he really turned things around as a three-year-old when he came up here and I really want to thank Peter Moody for giving me the opportunity to get back on him.

“This one is very special because my wife Vic lost her sister Marianne and this one is for Mazza.

“This is number 104 (Group 1 wins), but this one means more to me than anything.

“Pete has done a great job with him and  I think I felt more pressure today trying to win on him to get him to go out on a winning note and obviously for Marianne.

“It is a special day and I can’t thank the people involved enough.

Trainer Peter Moody was very bullish about the  chances of Dissident heading into the All Aged Stakes and he was clearly delighted that the four-year-old was able to finish his racing career with a fifth victory at the highest level of racing.

Moody believes that Dissident has been underrated during his career and he is confident that the entire can go on and replicate the feats of his sire Dissident when he stands as a stallion at Newgate Farm for the upcoming breeding season.

“He has never got the accolades this colt,” Moody said.

“He has raced at Group 1 level since day one, he has won five Group 1s and he won his first start and he won his last start – you are made if you don’t send a mare to him.

“I was really pleased with him and it was a credit to my staff in Melbourne, they have done a tremendous job with him to bring him back.

“His last run was a little bit disappointing, but we have had him up here for 10 to 12 days and when Jimmy galloped him on Friday he convinced all of us how well he is going.

“It is very fitting, I have had the privilege of retiring three Group 1 winners – Typhoon Tracy, Black Caviar and Dissident – the first two were horse of the years and this bloke put his hand up to be number three.

“I am extremely proud of him.”

Wandjina battled on extremely bravely to finish second in the All Aged Stakes, while Chautauqua and Lucky Hussler hit the line strongly, but never looked like winning hopes in the final 100 metres of the race.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.