Scallopini primed for track hat-trick

MILLION-dollar man Scallopini will put his unblemished Flemington record on the line on Saturday when the rising nine-year-old continues to drink from the fountain of youth as one of Queensland’s pin-up horses.

Scallopini has become a Flemington 1400m specialist. He bolted in during his two starts at headquarters and his trainers Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted see no reason he can’t do it again in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m).

Connections also nominated the gelding for the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on the same day but opted for Flemington after he was allotted 60kg.

However, their decision to race in Melbourne was dealt a hammer blow on Wednesday morning when he was given barrier 15.

Coming off a blistering win in the Listed Elms Handicap last month, Hoysted said the decision was made to go back to a tried and tested formula in waiting for the Shaftesbury Avenue.

“He had a week’s freshenup after that win, he is super now,” Hoysted said.

“He’s nice and fit. It was more so to get him out of the stables and freshen him up. It worked because he looks a million dollars now.

“We nommed him for a race in Sydney, just in case he got too much weight here in Melbourne, but it looks OK.”

Scallopini’s last-start win pushed him past the $1m prizemoney mark and connections have no plans to pull up stumps on the stable stalwart, who could be headed to the recently boosted $3m Stradbroke Handicap during the winter.

Hoysted said they were looking to take advantage of his love of Flemington before deciding on his future.

“He just loves the place, the Flemington 1400m is his go,” he said. “We will see how he is when we get him home.”