After
launching his stud career in New Zealand with a bang last season, Inglewood
Stud's young sire Zacinto (Dansili) is continuing to make waves across the
ditch, leaving his first Australian winner on Wednesday.
Zacinto's striking son Odeon has always looked a talented horse, highlighted by
his second placing in Saturday company at Flemington last month, but he
announced himself as a potential Derby colt this season with a dominate five
length win at Geelong today, relishing the extra distance of the 1700m trip.
The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained youngster worked hard after jumping
from the outside barrier, being caught wide early before driving forward to sit
off the leader. Coming into the straight, the $2.20 favourite quickened and
left the others in his wake, crossing the line barely touched by jockey Chris
Symonds, five lengths clear of his nearest rival.
"He's a very, very promising horse, gee, I think we'll run him in the Derby
after that!" said Zahra after the race.
While Zahra said that Odeon has always been thought of as an autumn
three-year-old, thought has to be given to carrying on with him this campaign
to the VRC Derby.
"We might have re-evaluate after that, we'll have to let the dust settle and
see what happens," said Zahra.
"We might have a nice horse on our hands, he's definitely a really nice horse
in the making."
Odeon is just one of just three Australian runners for Zacinto, with Seento,
who holds a nomination for the Caulfield Guineas and Caulfield Classic, coming
from the rear of the field at Pakenham yesterday to run down all but the
winner.
Zacinto's daughter Navagio, who was second in Saturday company at Caulfield
back in June before being spelled, also holds an early nomination for the
Caulfield Classic, as well as the Thousand Guineas.
Zacinto made headlines earlier this year when the then first-season-sire
produced two stakes winners in a day, with Zigwig skipping away to a three
length win in the Listed Champagne Stakes at Riccarton, while just 15 minutes
later his highly touted son Ugo Foscolo collected the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes at Te Rapa.
"It's incredibly exciting," said Inglewood Stud's Gus Wigley.
"It really says something that all three of his Australian runners to date have
stakes targets in mind.
"He has a number of youngsters here in New Zealand that have the New Zealand
1000 or 2000 Guineas as their goal this
spring and just yesterday he left a pretty sensational trial winner at Rangiora
for owner/trainer Bevan Wilson – she looks to be top shelf."
Zacinto has a full book of 125 mares for the 2016 season.
News from Inglewood Stud