AFL premiership-winning coach turned horse trainer Denis Pagan wins Victoria Derby with Johnny Get Angry
They said he was “off his rocker” … but AFL premiership-winning coach-turned horse trainer Denis Pagan has won the Group 1 Victoria Derby with his first ever horse.
In a remarkable horse racing story, dual-AFL premiership coach Denis Pagan has trained Johnny Get Angry to win the Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday.
Pagan, who coached North Melbourne to win the 1996 and 1999 premierships, has only had his training licence for six months, with Johnny Get Angry the first horse to enter his stable.
The 73-year-old is not allowed to train for other owners given he is in the infancy of his career, admittedly as a septuagenarian.
But as a result of the triumph by Johnny Get Angry, a horse he bought for $50,000, Pagan pockets $1.2 million for first prize.
JOHNNY GET ANGRY WINS THE AAMI VICTORIA DERBY!
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 31, 2020
Congratulations to Dennis Pagan and @LachieJamesKing on your first Group 1 wins. What a story! pic.twitter.com/0JHdlaZV4X
Pagan was overwhelmed after Lachie King steered home his first Group 1 victory on the three-year-old. He declared the success as “ten times better” than coaching a premiership.
“I am lost for words. It is just an amazing feeling,” he said.
“I thought I was low key and had handled it. (I) had a good lunch yesterday, probably had too much to drink. I can’t have expected this.”
King, 22, had the maiden galloper well-positioned on the back of favourite Young Werther in sixth position throughout the run as Kenzan set the pace.
Pagan had feared the pace of the Derby was too slow for his stable star and was concerned he might be outsprinted in the straight in the Group 1 run over 2500m.
Johnny Get Angry and Young Werther made their runs together and hit the front at the top of the Flemington straight, but it was clear Pagan’s horse was travelling better.
Pagan, who works in real estate with his son Ryan, was seated in the grandstand as Johnny Get Angry, which paid $16, held off Hit The Shot.
Young Werther ran third, edging the Patrick Payne-trained Cherry Tortoni, who ran home well from near last.
A gelding by Tavistock by Luminova, Johnny Get Angry had placed three times from six starts prior to breaking his maiden in remarkable fashion at Flemington.
Pagan was somewhat more composed when interviewed later on Saturday, though the emotion was still evident on his face.
“I couldn’t even talk. It is amazing. Strike a light. I am probably a silly old fool these days,” he said.
Pagan, who also coached Carlton without the success he enjoyed with North Melbourne, said people said he was “off your rocker” when he decided to pursue a training career.
But given he held only a provisional licence, which meant he had to own the horses, Pagan said he “didn’t feel any pressure”.
He praised trainers who had helped him finetune Johnny Get Angry in the lead-in to the famous race.
“They were mine. I didn’t have any responsibility to a football club. I didn’t have any responsibility to my members. I didn’t have any responsibility to the media,” he said.
King — whose father Steven Kide rode Star of the Realm to win the 1991 Victoria Derby — said he could not thank Pagan enough for allowing him to keep the ride despite being approached by senior jockeys.
“To be honest, I cannot thank him enough. He is the best thing to happen to my career,” he said.
Knowing the promise Johnny Get Angry showed made getting up in the morning easier for King, who said he had dreamt of a Derby success.
“All I was thinking from the 600 metres was, ‘Don’t wake up’,” he said.
“I have lived this moment so many times in my dreams. I cannot explain this feeling.
“From the 800m, I couldn’t be any more confident. I was counting my blessings coming into the straight.”
Pagan, who coached superstars including AFL great Wayne Carey, said other trainers had recommended he book a senior rider for the Derby, but he had no intention of denying King a chance.
“No-one could understand it, but loyalty plays a big part,” he said.
“Senior jockeys rang for it, but I was never going to take Lachie off it. You give someone a chance.
“I hope it is a good start for Lachie. He can ride. He just doesn’t get the opportunities.”
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