A couple of star performances yesterday, including a resounding win by Odeon in the $100,000 Mornington Guineas (1600m), gave Inglewood Stud’s young sire Zacinto (Dansili) a day to remember.
While Zacinto’s budding Australian star Odeon continued his Group One campaign in empathic style in Victoria, it was his progressive galloper Son Of Zac that made it two wins in a row on the home front. Coming off a six length win at Riccarton just last week, Son Of Zac backed up yesterday against the older horses over 1800m for a most impressive win for trainers Kevin and Pam Hughes. Sitting last in the 15 horse field at the turn, still some 30 lengths from the leader, the dashing chestnut came wide with his now distinctive barnstorming finish to eat up the ground and take the win by 1 ½ lengths.
While Son Of Zac looks to be a rising force on the local scene, it was only a few hours later at Mornington, Victoria’s premier meeting for the day, that Zacinto was again to the fore with his budding Australian star Odeon stamping himself as a serious Derby contender with a commanding win in the $A100,000 Mornington Guineas (1600m). Coming from a midfield position, Odeon looped the field four wide on the turn before romping away to an emphatic three length win.
Co-trainer Simon Zahra was full of praise for the progressive youngster, who now has the Gr.1 South Australian Derby firmly on his radar.
“He’s done really well today, there’s plenty of upside to him, he sustained a long run and won well,” Zahra said.
“The owners have been patient with him, hopefully we can reward them with a Derby.”
Odeon, who has shown staying promise from the start of his career, has won both starts after being gelded during the summer.
The trans-Tasman double continues a fantastic season for Zacinto which currently has him out in front as New Zealand’s leading Second Season Sire by both earnings ($444,525) and winners (9).
“He’s certainly got his career off to a fantastic start,” says Inglewood Stud’s Gus Wigley.
“He’s had his superstar in 2000 Guineas winner Ugo Foscolo, but he now has so many other promising youngsters coming through, and what’s most encouraging is that he’s already left so many multiple winners in this early stage of his career.”
In addition to Odeon and Son Of Zac winning their last two races in a row, Zacinto also had Zigwig claim back to back wins before things went awry in the New Zealand Oaks. She will get the opportunity to put things straight in the two upcoming black-type fillies’ races at Riccarton.
Zacinto also has last start Ellerslie winner Sidestep looking at a potential Queensland campaign, Navagio who won a $108,000 race at Flemington in February, and Strowan having won two of his last four starts.
In a career that has already produced 12 winners and two stakes winners from just 28 runners, Zacinto has also proven in demand in the sale ring, with his colt out of Anya topping the first day of the NZB Select Sale this year at $180,000.
“His results are certainly catching the attention of buyers and trainers, not only here but we’ve had plenty of interest from Australia,” Wigley added.
“He leaves a really consistent, good looking type of yearling and he just keeps stepping up as a sire. He’s a great commercial option for breeders this coming season.”
Zacinto has 11 yearlings entered for the South Island Sale on April 21, three being presented through the Inglewood Stud draft.