No last hurrah for Malandrino
RACING TIMES Cambridge galloper Malandrino’s sale to Hong Kong interests is set to be finalised today, writes Tim Barton.
Talented Cambridge three-year-old Malandrino has been sold to Hong Kong and will be withdrawn from the Gr III Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben tomorrow.
The final details of the sale were expected to be completed either last night or today.
Malandrino was an acceptor for the A$125,000 Rough Habit yesterday but trainer Murray Baker said the horse’s chances of running this weekend were “virtually nil”.
Malandrino’s new owners do not want him to run in Queensland and he will be sent to Hong Kong without another race.
“It is a pity, because he has just been flying since he’s been here [in Queensland],” Baker said. “But you can’t have it both ways.”
Malandrino was a $ 95,000 yearling buy for Wellington owner Lib Petagna and has had three wins and two seconds from seven starts.
He showed promise last spring and reached a new level in his latest preparation.
He won fresh-up over 1580m at Waipa and earned a rave review from rider James Mcdonald when winning the Gr III Manawatu Classic (2000m) at his following start, on March 31.
The Darci Brahma gelding has not raced since Awapuni but Baker had been confident the horse would have been tough to beat this weekend and again in the Queensland Derby.
“His work has been terrific and I don’t usually say that. He has been here two weeks and had improved that much. I did rate him a very good horse,” Baker said.
“I saw James [Mcdonald] when he arrived [in Brisbane] this morning and he was pretty disappointed the horse wasn’t running.”
New Zealand stables will still have three runners in the Rough Habit, with Hunterville stablemates Nashville and Urunga joined by Otaki filly Poste Restante.
Nashville, who will be making his middle-distance debut, is already as low as $ 8 for the Queensland Derby and a good run tomorrow would propel him near the top of the Derby market.
He is currently on the fifth line but the four at shorter odds include Malandrino and Artistic, neither of whom are expected to run, and a decision on favourite Zabeelionaire has been delayed till next week.
Third favourite is Soros, a Lonhro colt with Peter Moody, who won over 2000m at Flemington at his last start.
Nashville, who will be ridden by Kelly Myers tomorrow, won a Rating 85 1600m at Awapuni at his last start, while Urunga is also a last-start winner, beating Tradtri in a special conditions maiden.
Jonathan Riddell, who will partner Gr I Manawatu Sires’ Produce winner Choice Bro in a A$100,000 juvenile 1200m at Doomben, has picked up the mount on Urunga.
Poste Restante, who will be ridden by Chris Munce, finished fourth in the New Zealand Oaks before beating all bar Malandrino in the Manawatu Classic.
Cambridge youngster Saturn Rock will be a rival for Choice Bro, while Wellington Cup winner Six O’clock News will be Nash Rawiller’s mount in the A$115,000 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m).