In a performance befitting the races honours board, Per Incanto colt Saracino (Per Incanto-Bella Daniela by O’Reilly) displayed class and courage to land the set weights (1200m) Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Leading on the famous straight course is never an easy proposition yet the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained colt was able to lead-up a strong field of three-year-olds and still produce a winning kick at the 200m.
Previous winners of the Danehill Stakes include Snitzerland, Sepoy, Black Caviar, Fastnet Rock, Falvelon and Rory’s Jester.
Saracino’s Danehill victory is the Per Incanto colt’s second consecutive Group 2 win following a defeat of older horses at WFA in New Zealand in the Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate.
Saturday’s win is also extra special for the colt’s owner Lib Petagna and his racing manager Bruce Perry, two of Per Incanto’s greatest supporters.
Domestically there were a couple of outstanding results for the farm and clients on Saturday.
The Don Gordon and LA bred All Roads (Road To Rock-Dancing Daze by Dance Floor)justified the growing opinion of many that the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs trained five-year-old is one of the most promising middle distance gallopers in the country with another comprehensive win at Ruakaka, his fourth victory in his last five starts. All Roads was bought from LA’s 2013 Karaka Select draft.
And at Awapuni, the Spyglass Hill bred New York Minute (Iffraaj-Zenno Queen by Zenno Rob Roy) joined Listed winner It’s Time For Magic (Per Incanto-Tick Tock Time by Savabeel) as the second black-type performer in seven days sold from LA’s National Weanling Sale draft with her third placing in the Group 3 Merial Metric Mile.
