Third in last season's Group1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, the
It earned him a trip across the Tasman for Saturday's $200,000 Group II Danehill Stakes (1200m) and he didn't disappoint.
With Damien Oliver in the saddle, Saracino was always in the firing line and kept up a strong gallop to defeat Archives (Helmet) by a long-neck with Samara Dancer three-quarters of a length back in third (photos Grant Courtney).
"I thought it was a very brave effort, especially after being in front a long way out," Baker said.
"The plan was to try and ride him off the pace today but he landed on the front and kept kicking - that's a good effort on the straight track."
"I'd like to think he'll get the trip in a Caulfield Guineas but you never know, he might just be a sprinter," Baker said.
"He's always shown us plenty but he would pull up when he got to the front, today he had his mind on the job,"
"There are plenty of options for him if he doesn't get a mile, a race like the Coolmore here on Derby Day for example," Baker said.
"He's maturing all the time and should get better again. His next start will tell us if he can get further than today."
One of five stakes-winners from the first two crops of Little Avondale Stud's rising star Per Incanto (USA) (Street Cry), Saracino advances his overall record to 2 1 1 5 starts with earnings of $218,163.
Raced in the increasingly familiar colours of his breeder Lib Petagna, Saracino is the first foal of the O'Reilly mare Bella Daniela whose dam Coupon (Carnegie) is a half-sister to Group II Hobartville Stakes winner Sir Clive and the Group III winner Ascending.
Bella Daniela has a 2yo filly and yearling filly by Per Incanto (USA) and was covered by Atlante last spring.
