Ugo Foscolo took effortless strides toward his
return to serious competition on Monday morning with a runaway trial win at
Warwick Farm.
The Group I New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner went straight to the front and, after
dashing clear before the turn, he coasted home by seven lengths with little
encouragement from rider Josh Parr.
"It wasn't as hot a field as it was for his first trial when he ran fifth
behind the likes of English, Terravista and Astern, but he wasn't asked for
anything then," said Jonathan Scully, who manages part-owner Kevin Hickman's Valachi
Downs operation at Matamata.
"He put a few lengths on them today and he looked pretty good in doing it."
The high-class son of Zacinto is scheduled to make his Australian debut for new
trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes at
Randwick on Saturday week.
"I've spoken to Gai and Adrian and they said he could be a bit vulnerable over
1300 metres, that's not his pet distance, but he'll be at his best third-up for
the Doncaster. Everyone is very pleased with the horse.
"We're looking forward to March 4 with Savile Row in the Derby here as well."
Ugo Foscolo is likely to run in the $A1 million Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes over
1500 metres at Rosehill on March 18 with two weeks then to the $A3 million Gr.1
Doncaster Handicap at Randwick.
Previously trained by Stephen Marsh, the three-year-old successfully resumed this
season at Hastings before finishing sixth in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas.
He returned to winning form in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial ahead of his impressive
victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November.
Hickman and Todd Bawden, of Hamilton, shared in the ownership of Ugo Foscolo
before they bought out their former partners following the classic win at
Riccarton. – NZ Racing Desk.