Maloney says Al Dorama has surprised him

Ryan Maloney has ridden the Robert Smerdon-trained Al Dorama to win at Flemington.

Al Dorama has surprised his jockey Ryan Maloney with his progress with the colt claiming a Flemington win at his second start.

The two-year-old ran second on debut at Sandown late last month before winning Saturday’s Meadow Mist Plate (1000m).

He raced under the name of the Robert Smerdon stable but will be transferred next week with the trainer to stand down pending a hearing into serious charges relating to historic race day treatments.

“He’s a remarkable horse because at the start of the preparation I never would have thought he would have come here and did what he has done today,” Maloney said.

“The first time I ever trialled him he was that raw and just didn’t do anything.

“But each trial he had he just came on in huge leaps and bounds and he’s still got a bit of scope there.”

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Al Dorama ($5.50) fended off the challenge from $2.60 favourite Nasaayim by a short neck with another length to Fake ($6) in third.

“I don’t know if there’s much in the tank (for this preparation) but what he has done today has just been a bonus,” Maloney said.

“I think as a three-year-old you’ll see his true colours.”

Al Dorama’s owner Barbara Saunders said she would sit down on Sunday to decide who the colt, and other horses, would be going to but said it would most likely be Henry Dwyer.

Smerdon and seven other licensees were charged earlier this week after an investigation which stemmed from the Smerdon-trained Lovani being scratched at Flemington on October 7 last year when stewards believed she had received a race day treatment against the rules.

Nature Strip, an impressive winner at Sandown last week with Maloney aboard, is expected to be transferred in the interim from Smerdon to Robert Hickmott who is the caretaker trainer for John Sadler who is halfway through a six-week suspension for misconduct.