By Bren O'Brien
The training career of former dual AFL Premiership winning coach Denis Pagan continues its sharp upward trajectory with Frankie Two Angels (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) giving him his first win at Sandown on Wednesday.
It may have taken a bit of time for 72-year-old Pagan to get into training after a successful career as a player for North Melbourne and South Melbourne and as a coach for North Melbourne and Carlton, but he is wasting little time making an impression.
His first runner in a race, Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), was placed in the Listed Gibson Carmichael S. at Flemington earlier this month and followed that up with a second in the Byerly H. at the same track last Saturday.
While that gelding looks an ideal G1 Victoria Derby prospect, Frankie Two Angels also looks above average off the back of his maiden win over 1300 metres on Wednesday.
He had debuted under the name of Leon and Troy Corstens with a sixth in the Listed St Albans S. in March and resumed with a hard-fought Sandown victory thanks to a strong ride from apprentice Lachie King.
"It's exciting, I was really pleased with the way Lachie (King) rode it and couldn't have been more pleased with the result," Pagan said.
"It's good, exciting stuff. It keeps you young," he added.
Pagan will aim for a $135,000 event on G3 Aurie's Star Handicap Day on August 8 with Frankie Two Angels.
"I think there' a 1400 race at Flemington in a couple of weeks," Pagan said when where he was likely to head next with the gelding."
Bred by Sun Stud, Frankie Two Angels is out of the imported mare Kassama (Fr) (Nayef {USA}), who is a sister to French Group 2 winner Kesampour (King's Best {USA}). It's a family with plenty of European staying credentials with G1 Irish St Leger winner Kastoria (Ire) (Selkirk {USA}), G2 Prix Kergolay winner Kassani (Fr) (Alleged {USA}) also on the page.
Frankie Two Angels as a yearling
He was initially sold for $100,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale last year to Ohukia Lodge, when then re-offered him through the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs.
Malua Bloodstock paid NZ$150,000 for him on behalf of Pagan.
Pagan has had a long-time interest in racing and has shared ownership in several horses before deciding to take his training licence out in the past 12 months.
He was regarded as a tactical mastermind as a football coach and guided North Melbourne to premiership glory in 1996 and 1999. He coached North Melbourne for 240 matches before heading to Carlton in 2003 where he coached until 2007, a further 10 games.
He had worked in real estate before deciding to embark on a training career.
