Fox Dan wears the Gold Crown for team Zav

Unbeaten harness racing colt Fox Dan (Art Major) made the long trek to Bathurst a worthwhile sojourn for Team Zav when he led all the way in the Group 1 $150,000 Gold Crown Final.

A heat winner on his race track debut, Fox Dan ($1.95) quickly mustered speed to hold the front running from the pole.

Driver Jack Callaghan was able to steal a 30.2 second quarter ‘breather’ before reeling off a 27.6 back straight quarter pinching a winning break on straightening.

My Ultimate Barney tried valiantly to run down Fox Dan in the home stretch but the Clayton Tonkin prepared juvenile was equal to the task scoring by four metres in a mile rate 1:54.7.

Ironically, Jack Callaghan secured the drive on the winner after Cameron Hart elected to partner the runner up My Ultimate Barney in the Final.

FOX DAN REPLAY

Callaghan predicts a bright future for Fox Dan.

“He showed that he has the gate speed and he feels like a natural professional race horse who should go places,” Callaghan said.

“He was never going to lose once we turned for home,” he said.

Fox Dan is was bred and is raced by the Team Zav outfit comprising Geelong based businessman Danny Zavitsanos and his wife Jo.

“This win means so much to me because he is out of Jodila who is the first horse I raced in the sport,” he said.

“Jodila didn’t do much as a race mare but she has now left two Group 1 winners.”

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink