Mazzuro to race once more as Aussie jaunt pays off for Richards

New Zealand three-year-old Mazzuro will make one more appearance in Victoria before heading home.

The connections’ decision to send the son of Rip Van Winkle across the Tasman has proved a masterstroke, with the chestnut winning two of his three Australian starts.

Mazzuro was runner-up in a maiden at Moe before he was successful over 2200m at Geelong, and at Sandown on Saturday, he won a A$120,000 three-year-old handicap (2100m).

“It was a very satisfying result,” trainer Paul Richards said. “I flew home on Sunday morning but I spoke to his trackwork rider this morning and the horse is 100 per cent.

“He’ll run in another three-year-old race worth A$120,000 at Flemington on June 9 and then he’ll definitely come home after that for a break.”

He is raced by Mosgiel couple Bill and Sandra Duell, long-time clients of Richards, and was sourced as a replacement for now retired multiple stakes-winning sprinter Natuzzi.

Out of the Listed winner Mini Pearl, Mazzuro was bred by Wanganui couple Nigel and Adaire Auret and prepared by son Hamish to win two trials in the central districts last spring before his purchase.

“The only down side was that he’d missed much of his three-year-old career, so I said to the owners, if he came up well, we’d chase some good money in Australia,” Richards said.

This offshore campaign will be the last for Richards, as he will be joining Te Akau next season in the role of travelling foreman. Mazzuro will transfer to son Jamie, who is taking sole charge of the Matamata training operation.