As a colt, Dothraki performed well without reaching the level his trainer knew he could.

In two starts as a gelding he has shown Gerald Ryan he is ready to fulfil his promise.

At his first start after the operation, the four-year-old ran second to You’ll Never over 1200 metres at Rosehill then lugged 60kg to win over 1100m.

What pleased Ryan about that race on November 15 was the way Dothraki sprinted in the final 200 metres despite the weight.

He is one of 19 entries for Saturday’s Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill with the Listed sprint part of a summer series of short course races.

“He has done very well since he won,” Ryan said.

“He is the sort of horse that needs to be held up for one last crack at them and he has a sprint that is unmatched.

“In trackwork he can do things other horses can’t but until he was gelded, he just didn’t put it together on race day.”

As a two-year-old, Dothraki won one race and was placed in two Golden Slipper lead-up races before finishing last in the main event.

He won two stakes races at three and was close in a couple of others Ryan thought he could have won.

All going well in the Starlight, Dothraki will run in the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m) two weeks later and the Canterbury Classic another two weeks after that.

“I think for this summer series they should have a bonus at the end of it,” Ryan said.

“It doesn’t have to be $100,000 but it would be nice to have something for all the horses in it.

“With a points system, even the horse which runs second could win it.”

Ryan also has the Group One Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28 as a target if Dothraki measures up as he hopes he will.

In-form jockey Blake Shinn has ridden Dothraki in his two starts this campaign and again takes the mount on Saturday.

Aeronautical, winner of last year’s Razor Sharp, is the top rated sprinter in the entries at 103 with Dothraki on 101.

Article from justhorseracing.com.au