Goffs UK Breeze-up graduate Lao Tzu (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) took first blood as the European Classic season got underway in Rome, when getting up late under jockey Maikol Arras to win the G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2,000 Guineas) for owner/trainer Stefano Botti.
He narrowly got the verdict over Kabir (Ire), one of two Italian stakes winners for Far Above (GB), who was beaten just a short-neck into second after making most of the running. Zenorione (Ita) (Mount Everest {Ire}) was almost three lengths shy of the leading duo when taking third.
The winner, who was bred by Jack and Noel Finegan, was bought by Valfredo Valiani from from the Tally-Ho Stud draft at Doncaster last year for £16,000 and he entered the Classic off a conditions race victory in Pisa three weeks ago.
Lao Tzu is the third foal of the unraced Bionic Buffy (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a half-sister to the Listed winner Red Stars (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}).
The mare's current two-year-old is a colt by Starman (GB) and her further family includes the St Leger winner Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}).
Sunday, Rome, Italy
PREMIO PARIOLI HID (ITALIAN 2000 GUINEAS)-G3, €165,000, Rome, 4-27, 3yo, 1600mT, 1:35.50, sf.
1–LAO TZU (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Kodiac (GB)
1st Dam: Bionic Buffy (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Magen's Star (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Bluffing (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. (€44,000 Wlg '22 GOFNOV; 38,000gns RNA
Ylg '23 TATOCT; £16,000 2yo '24 GOFAPR). O/T-Stefano Botti
Turf SRL Societa. B-Noel & Jack Finegan (Ire). J-Maikol Arras.
€63,750. Lifetime Record: 8-5-2-0, €159,610. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kabir (Ire), 128, c, 3, Far Above (Ire)–Khameela (GB), by
Equiano (Fr). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€30,000 Ylg '23
TATSEP). O-Scuderia Pink And Black, SRL. B- (Ire). T-Endo Botti
Galoppo Di E. Botti. €28,050.
3–Zenorione (Ity), 128, c, 3, Mount Everest (Ire)–Pozzielli (Ity),
by Shaweel (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
O-Giovanni Vitale Vittorio. B-N.D. (Ity). T-Melania Cascione.
€15,300.
Margins: SNK, 2 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 3.09, 5.39, 14.76.
Also Ran: Brisone (GB), Cleone Jet (Ire), Became Good (Ire), Monello Sabino (Ire), Kanthan Fly, Conformist (Ity), Grand Kodiac (Ire), Pompeo Dream (Fr), Lost President (Ire), Bridge Ashi Kun (Ire), Impressive Royal (Ire). Click for the Grande Ippica Italiana chart & video.
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