Dalakhani's Guardini Impresses in JRA Plate

It was disappointing to learn during the week that Cornerstone shuttler Dalakhani will miss the rest of the Northern Hemisphere covering season due to a veterinary problem.

The near white stallion has only had a handful of starters in Australia. His best has undoubtedly been the Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Reliable Man who claimed the Prix du Jockey-Club before entering the stables of Chris Waller.

This season Dalakhani's son Arab Dawn (GB) has claimed the Listed Parramatta Cup and Manndawi (FR) has been stakes-placed.

Then there's the Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained Guardini (FR) who improved on his narrow second to Leebaz in the Group III Easter Cup at Caulfield to win Saturday's Group III Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) at Randwick.

After travelling three-wide without cover under rider Hugh Bowman, Guardini (FR) produced a brilliant turn of foot to win running away by one and a half lengths from Index Linked (GB) (Dansili) with Godolphin's Havana Cooler (IRE) (Hurricane Run) another neck away in third.

Winner of the Group III Prix du Lys Longines at Chantilly and Group II Gerling-Preis at Cologne when trained in Europe by Jean-Pierre Carvalho, Guardini (FR) was winning for the first time in his adopted homeland at his third start.

Despite not having the best of trips, Guardini (FR) had his trainer feeling confident in the run.

"Well I thought there would be a bit of improvement in him today but if I could have got on him with 600m to go I would have, I was saying to the strapper Dave in the run I said don't worry too much he is three deep they are used to doing that overseas," Lee Freedman said.

"I unfortunately, ran him at Geelong when he was exhausted from a trip to America and a few other things but he has done brilliantly since then and his run in the Easter Cup put the mark on the board he was about to do something and there is improvement in him.

"The horse just travelled beautifully he has come into himself now, he is a high-class horse and I think there is a good future for him."

Freedman said the Group II Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm is a likely target for the son of Dalakhani.

Guardini (FR) is out of the stakes-winning Dynaformer mare Guantana (GER) whose dam Guadalupe (GER) (Monsun) won the 2002 Group 1  Premio Oaks d'Italia (Italian Oaks) and comes from the family of Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup hero Royal Rebel and the champion multiple Group 1 winner Alexander Goldrun.