A group of Greek and Cypriot mates from Sydney and Melbourne will be flying the blue and white colours this Saturday, 18 October 2025, when their sprinter Dragonstone lines up in the $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200 m) on The Everest Day at Royal Randwick.
Trained by Joe Pride, Dragonstone has earned more than $1.2 million from 39 starts and will jump from barrier 13 under jockey Josh Parr.
The gelding races in blue-and-white silks managed by Nicholas Tzaferis – colours that, the owners say, pay tribute to both the Greek flag and Tzaferis’ Everton Football Club allegiance.
The ownership group includes Kostas Fotiadis, Chris Sakkos, Theo Axiotis, Andrew Kakalas, Anthony Proutsos, Allan Tzaferis, Chris Iliadis, Nik Vlahos, Peter Kotsiris, and Andrew Georgiou, among others. The majority of the owners are of Greek or Cypriot background and describe the journey with Dragonstone as one they’ll never forget.
One of the part-owners, Mr Proutsos, told The Greek Herald the experience has been “nothing short of incredible.”
“Dragonstone is one of a kind. He’s got a huge heart for such a small frame, and he always gives 100%. We’ve been blessed with this horse. From the first day he stepped onto the track, when he finished third on debut at Canterbury back in 2021, it’s been an unbelievable ride.”
Among the standout highlights for the group was Dragonstone’s victory at Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day in 2024, when he won under jockey Adam Hyeronimus.
Many of the owners were in Melbourne for Cup Week at the time, but that didn’t stop the celebrations – which carried late into the night at Jim’s Greek Tavern in Collingwood, a favourite haunt for the Melbourne-based contingent.
Earlier this year, Dragonstone added another feature to his résumé with a win in the Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush, further cementing his reputation as one of the most consistent sprinters in training.
As for this weekend, excitement is running high. Proutsos says it’s hard to put into words what a win in the Sydney Stakes would mean, hinting that if Dragonstone pulls off the upset, the celebrations could “go on for days.”
With the Sydney Stakes serving as the consolation race to The Everest, Dragonstone will once again carry the hopes – and pride – of his Greek Australian owners. Win or lose, there’s little doubt the celebrations among his backers will be loud, proud, and very blue and white.
