Sacred Satono Primed for Spring

Media Release - Thursday August 17

Trainers Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley are hoping a big spring is in-store for their Group Three winner Sacred Satono.

Sacred Satono (inside) pleased his trainers with his trial win at Cambridge on Thursday. Photo: Trish Dunell

The four-year-old entire had his first public hit-out of the season at the Cambridge synthetic trials on Thursday, and he put in an eye-catching performance when storming home late to win his 950m heat.

The son of Satono Aladdin had a pleasing three-year-old term, winning three and placing in his six New Zealand starts, including winning the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), and was runner-up in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).

He subsequently had a three-race autumn campaign in Sydney before returning to his homeland for a spell.

Advertisement

Cooksley has been pleased with the way Sacred Satono has returned and took plenty of confidence from his trial win ahead of what could be a lucrative spring campaign.

“He had a nice trial, that is all he was out to do, and he got to the line quite nicely,” Cooksley said.

“He had two-and-a-half months out and he has done well. Being a stallion, he hasn’t grown a lot, but he has strengthened up quite a bit.

“He was always six months behind (last season) because he was a little bit weak. This time he has come back quite good, so this year should be a nice season for him.”

His trainers are eyeing the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) as Sacred Satono’s first-up target, and while he is nominated for the first two legs of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, they are still weighing up their options, both in New Zealand and abroad.

“I have put him in there (Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival), but we will see how he comes through today. He could also go over to Australia, but we will just work things out,” Cooksley said.

Evergreen stablemate Gino Severini was also in the same heat and pleased Cooksley with his unplaced run.

“He went a nice trial and was a couple of lengths behind the other horse,” he said.

“He won’t be going in the same grade of races he went for last year, he will just have a couple of runs and we will see how he comes back.

“He may kick-off at Waikato on the 17th next month, there is an Open 1400m there.”

The 10-year-old gelding has been a great stalwart for the stable, highlighted by victories in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) and Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m), and placings in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) on two occasions,  and Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Satono Aladdin Stakes-Winner Headed to Sydney
Promising three-year-old Sacred Satono will join the team of Kiwis planning a raid on the riches of the Sydney Autumn Carnival when he returns to racing after a recent break.
Queensland Calling for Sacred Satono
Class galloper Sacred Satono put his name firmly in the frame for a proposed Queensland Winter Carnival venture when he kicked off a new campaign with an impressive victory at Ellerslie in the opening event, the Barfoot & Thompson 1200.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.