Ugo Foscolo class act in Guineas
TOMORROW Palmerston North dogs. TUESDAY Waipa gallops, Addington trots, Invercargill dogs. WEDNESDAY Canterbury gallops, Wanganui dogs. THURSDAY Manawatu gallops, Ashburton trots, Cambridge dogs, Christchurch dogs. FRIDAY Dargaville gallops, Auckland trots, Addington trots, Wanganui dogs. SATURDAY Tauranga gallops, Canterbury gallops. EXPERT TIPS AUCKLAND – Tim Ryan THEE AULD FLOOZIE: Massive chance in Couplands Mile on Wednesday. SUGGESTIVE HEIGHTS: Under-rated galloper ready to resume after trial win. MISS HOROTIU: Went good in first campaign and early winner in new preparation. WAIKATO – Ross Fisher ECHEZEAUX: Her fresh-up success hinted that she could be in for her best season. SECRET STASH: Had to accept that her stablemate was too classy at Tauranga. Watch. MATIMBA: Natural improver after a bold showing fresh-up at Tauranga. Talented. CENTRAL DISTRICTS – Paul Gueorgieff HARD MERCHANDIZE: Won two-year-old debut at Otaki on Tuesday. Looks promising for trainer Gary Vile. MISSY MOO: Posted third career win with strong finish at Otaki. One to follow. IRISH WHISPER: Also won at Otaki. Scored in second run back with a determined home straight sprint. CANTERBURY – Mat Kermeen AMERICAN TART: Has looked good at the trials. Big chance in race five at Addington. VINCENT: Draw is tricky in race nine at Addington on Cup day but he has the ability to overcome up. NIGHT NURSE: Will be set for race two at Riccarton on Wednesday and looks a big show at 53kg. OTAGO-SOUTHLAND – Jamie Searle TOUR DIRECTOR: Capable type and an improver for race seven at Wyndham today. MOMENT OF SUN: Handy trotter trained on the Wyndham track. Don’t leave out of combinations for race eight. ONE DIRECTION: Unplaced in Riverton Cup. Will find race nine at Wyndham an easier assignment. GREYHOUNDS – Peter Earley OBSTINATUS: Last two runs only fair, gets a chance to bounce back in the second at Auckland today. POWDER JACK: Got a check at crucial time last start, should be each way bet in the eighth today. VIDEO WATCH: Murray Wedlake NELSON PARK: Has had little go his way in either run of his current campaign and could do with a change of fortune. RAYAS: Was checked short of the finish at Awapuni when battling and can be expected to have improved with the run. ALL ABOUT ROY: Settled back at Motukarara and was always in cramped quarters behind a wall of horses during the run home. 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 11⁄4-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, as his runner was 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 in May.
‘‘It’s awesome for the South Island breeding,’’ Marsh said.
‘‘He’s a really good stallion and he’s stamped that here today with a Group I.’’
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 paid 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.
Heroic Valour was a further threequarters 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 resurgence with special.
‘‘The big thing is from where the horse has come from as a two-year-old to the problems we’ve had with him, mentally you look at him he’s still very immature,’’ Marsh said.
‘‘Everyone doubted him to continue a Group I win over his was the mile but we 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. knew was he was fit,’’