Dragons in Greek mythology guarded the Golden Fleece at Colchis. It was said to never sleep, rest, or lower its vigilance. According to Ovid's "Metamorphoses", the monster had a crest and three tongues. When Jason went to retrieve the Fleece, the witch Medea put the dragon to sleep with her magic and drugs, or perhaps Orpheus lulled it to sleep with his lyre. Afterwards, Medea herself had dragons pull her chariot. The Ismenian Serpent, of the spring of Ismene at Thebes, Greece, was slain by the hero Cadmus. It was the offspring of Ares, who later turned the hero into a serpent. According to
Golden Fleece (horse) Fleece did not race again in 1981, but his form was boosted when Assert won the Beresford Stakes by four lengths. In the spring of 1982, Golden Fleece established himself as a leading contender for the Derby by winning the Ballymoss Stakes at the Curragh and the Nijinsky Stakes at Leopardstown. His participation in the Classic was briefly put in doubt by a minor training injury, but he made a quick recovery. In the Epsom Derby, Golden Fleece started the 3/1 favourite in a field of eighteen runners. His task was made slightly easier by the late withdrawal of his