Dragonne Rouge punters happy after Calaway Gal plunge comes off as favourite Hi Barbie bombs start

Well-backed filly Dragonne Rouge remains on track for her Group 1 target while favourite backers were hurting when Hi Barbie missed the start terribly.

Dragonne Rouge runs down Ha'penny Hatch to win the Calaway Gal Stakes at Eagle Farm. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

The smart punters were on the money when a plunge on Dragonne Rouge to win the $200,000 Calaway Gal Stakes for two-year-old fillies at Eagle Farm on Saturday paid off after favourite Hi Barbie missed the start horribly.

The Shaun Dwyer-trained filly was paying upwards of $7.50 earlier this week but jumped at $3.30 to win the Listed race on a Soft 7 track over 1200m, while Hi Barbie was short at $2.40.

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Andrew Mallyon left his run late to wear down the Paul Shailer-trained Ha’penny Hatch ($6), with Sweet Pretender ($12) finishing third.

It was a disaster for Brisbane’s premier trainer Tony Gollan, who had nominated $1.2m filly Hi Barbie as the pick of his runners on Saturday before she badly missed the kick with Angela Jones riding.

It would have been an emotional victory had Hi Barbie won her first race since her bold sixth in the $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January.

Hi Barbie is owned by Jennifer Acton, who lost her husband, cattle baron Alan, in a tragic helicopter accident more than two years ago.

Gollan said it was “back to the drawing board” for Hi Barbie after her mishap in the barriers.

Dragonne Rouge makes it three in a row to start her career! @mallyon_andrewpic.twitter.com/78mWaUMdii

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 26, 2025

“She was good in the gates, obviously got a bee in her bonnet and lunged in the air when the gates opened,” he said.

“She had a slower than normal post-race recovery but I think that’s from getting so worked up when they jumped away.”

Dwyer said the $1m JJ Atkins (1600m) on June 14 at Eagle Farm was still on the cards for Dragonne Rouge, who is now undefeated after three starts.

“Look, it’s a while off. She’ll probably get away with one run in between then,” said Dwyer, who celebrated his 67th birthday last Monday.

“Let’s just see how she pulls up. I’m keen to do anything that might work.

“She’s got a good 18 months of racing in her and I’m mindful of some good three-year-old races next year too.

“We’ve got the Magic Millions (3YO Guineas) and next year’s three-year-old races.

“She’s a big filly but she’s light and she doesn’t hurt herself.

“She could go through another race and maybe get to the mile race (JJ Atkins). She’s a real racehorse.”

Andrew Mallyon brings Dragonne Rouge back to the winner’s stall. Pictute: Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Dwyer is hoping to win his first Group 1 since 2004 when the Sunshine Coast trainer secured the Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley and the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.

Owner Brad McMahon was delighted after the race and joked he wanted to send the tough filly to his hometown Grafton.

“It was unbelievable. She’s been trained a treat,” McMahon said.

“She’s fit and Shaun was really confident.

“She’s super for a $25,000 horse. I still want to take her to Grafton for the two-year-old race down there.

“That Magic Millions three-year-old (Guineas on the Gold Coast in January) is still the one, that’s the goal.”

Originally published as Dragonne Rouge punters happy after Calaway Gal plunge comes off as favourite Hi Barbie bombs start