Multiple G2 winning three-year-old Saracino (Per Incanto-Bella Daniela by O’Reilly) was confirmed this week s as one of four finalists in the category of NZ Sprinter of the Year.
Joining the Lib Petagna bred and owned Per Incanto 3YO are the older sprinters Kawi, Start Wondering and Signify, who between them were successful in six G1 contests across the season under review.
Saracino’s G2 treble comprised his defeat of the older horses in the 1400m Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa in August, the 1200m Danehill Stakes down the Flemington straight against the best Victorian spring 3YO sprinters and an all the way win in the 1400m Grant Plumbing Wellington Guineas in the autumn.
Co-incidentally the only occasion Saracino pitted himself against any of his fellow finalists was the G1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa when narrowly beaten into third behind the winner Start Wondering and second place-getter Natuzzi, with Kawi finishing fifth.
Saracino, who looks a shoo-in for the 3YO Sprinter title, is a deserved Sprinter of the Year finalist amongst a quality line-up
