Ugo Foscolo too classy in Guineas
STEPHEN Marsh and his connections were only half of Ugo Foscolo’s success story at Riccarton yesterday.
A front-running ride from Michael Coleman propelled Ugo Foscolo to a 11⁄ length win in the $400,000 Group I Sothys 2000 Guineas on the opening day of Cup week.
Ugo Foscolo, raced by Lib Petagna under his JML Bloodstock banner, Tony Muollo, Paddy O’Rourke, Rhoda Phillippo, Tony Bawden and Kevin Hickman, is the first Group I winner for his North Canterbury based sire Zacinto – who stands at Inglewood Stud.
A Group I win was a bright spot in a tough week for Petagna after Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Lucia Valentina was retired earlier in the week and the victory was double delight for Hickman who part owns Zacinto.
Inglewood’s studmaster Gus Wigley cut an emotional figure as he watched Ugo Foscolo come back to scale.
In the understatement of the year, Wigley said the win was a huge result for Zacinto and the excitement was evident for all to see in the final stages of the 2000 Guineas.
‘‘I normally yell in the last 50 metres of the race but Stephen [Marsh] and Troy Harris [Ugo Foscolo’s track work rider] started yelling at the straight so I joined in,’’ Wigley said.
Watching the last couple of hundred metres, with his runner well clear of the field, was emotional for Marsh and he admitted he had broken his own rules to get out of his seat early.
‘‘I usually don’t go up that early, I’m not a fan of the early crow, but I lost it and went up about the 300m,’’ Marsh said.
Even though Ugo Foscolo got tired late, the early celebrations were never going to jinx the Group I glory.
Ugo Foscolo is a part of Zacinto’s first crop and has become a flag bearer for him after producing his second Listed win, just 15 minutes after Zigwig scored his first on a day that really announced his arrival on the competitive stallion market back in May.
‘‘He’s a really good stallion and he’s stamped that here today with a Group I,’’ Marsh said.
Ugo Foscolo exploded out from barrier one to lead early and he and race favourite Mongolian Falcon slipped away from the field as they headed for home.
The eventual winner put pay to Mongolian Falcon’s challenge and then had to weather another storm as he tired and Savile Row made late ground but he held on to win. JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/FAIRFAX NZ
Heroic Valour was a further three-quarters of a length back in third.
For Marsh, there was an element of vindication after Ugo Foscolo lost his unbeaten record with a below par run in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas before he won the James and Annie Sarton Memorial last start.
Marsh said to continue his resurgence with a Group I win was special.
‘‘The big thing is from where the horse has come from as a twoyear-old to the problems we’ve had with him, mentally you look at him he’s still very immature,’’ Marsh said.
‘‘Everyone doubted him over the mile but we knew was he was fit,’’ Marsh said.
Marsh paid credit to all his staff who had all chipped in to get Ugo Foscolo back to his peak.
‘‘It’s been a huge effort to get him here, I’m just proud of everyone, horse and staff.’’
Mongolian Falcon drifted back in the field to finish sixth, nine lengths off Ugo Foscolo. NYMPH Monte has confirmed his New Zealand Cup favouritism following a dominant display at Riccarton yesterday.
The Grant Nicholson-trained stayer was a 21⁄ length winner of the Listed Gold Club Metropolitan Trophy (2500m).
On the back of the easy win, bookmakers moved Nymph Monte from $5 into $2.60 for the New Zealand Cup next Saturday.
‘‘When you look at it, that was the perfect trial really,’’ Nicholson said. ‘‘He’ll have a quiet week, we’ll just stretch his legs then all go for next week.’’
Nymph Monte is now two from two in the South Island following his Listed win in the Spring Classic at Riccarton on October 22 but the New Zealand Cup has always been his major target.
The Opak-based trainer already knows what his share of yesterday’s $43,750 winning stake will be spent on.
‘‘I blew the motor up in my truck coming out of the Oamaru races the other day. She just went bang,’’ Nicholson said.
Nymph Monte hit the line strongly in the Metropolitan and Nicholson is confident the step up in distance to 3200m will not be an issue.
Meanwhile, Hastings trainer John Bary picked up the first of a race-to-race double when Lady Zafira was an upset winner in the Listed Yesberg Insurance Services Pegasus Stakes.
But even Barry, who had always believed the Iffraaj mare was capable of a black type victory, was quick to pay tribute to grand galloper King Montrose who was euthanised after breaking down in the race.
Barry said Lady Zafira would be heading home today and there was no set plan for her, but a tilt at the Group I Telegraph was not being ruled out.
Barry’s second win came with Tiger Tim in a rating 85 mile.
The loss of King Montrose, who won 15 races for more than $300,000 in stakes, was a bitter blow for trainer Neill Ridley and his connections.
King Montrose, a popular sprinter with a strong following in the South Island, was hit hard with weight in recent years but still gave his all every start.
Nothing went the way of First Serve, a $1.65 favourite in the Pegasus, and she had to settle for fourth – easily her worst result in seven starts that included five wins and a second.
She was hampered on the bend and then struggled for a run in the final stages.
‘ I’m not a fan of the early crow, but I lost it and went up about the 300m.’ STEPHEN MARSH