By Heather Anderson
The 2026 edition of the G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) went to Grand Son Of Dark (Dark Angel) by 3 1/2 lengths at San Siro in Milan. Always close to the pace, the son of Chica Bonita (Lope De Vega) relished the trip and ran his rivals ragged.
Able to secure a rails run, the 6-1 shot rated in second behind the Lion Of Alba (Too Darn Hot). Those two showed the way through the early stages in the strung out field. On top by the halfway mark, the dark bay kicked away to win well in the straight. Zambezi (Zelzal) closed to take second, with Sunset On Leros (Almanzor) another three lengths back in third. Favoured Goldinthesea (No Nay Never) never got involved and ran ninth.
Picked up for £52,000 from the Mountarmstrong Stud draft by Marco Bozzi Bloodstock out of the 2024 Goffs Premier Yearling Sale, Grand Son Of Dark won his debut in Rome last May, before adding the Listed Premio Bimbi in June. A four-time juvenile winner by the end of the year, the colt opened 2026 with a second-place effort in a conditions race at Pisa, and returned a winner over this course and distance in April.
Pedigree Notes
Yeomanstown Stud's Dark Angel is now the sire of 71 group winners with Grand Son Of Dark's victory in Milan on Friday. Overall, the 21-year-old son of Acclamation is credited with 117 stakes winners worldwide.
The Premio Parioli winner is the first foal out of his dam, Chica Bonita (Lope De Vega). Her next foals are a two-year-old filly by Kodi Bear and a yearling colt by Good Guess.
His third dam, Aga Khan homebred Hawala, foaled G1 Irish St Leger hero Flag Of Honour (Galileo), as well as G3 Minstrel Stakes victor Air Chief Marshal (Danehill Dancer) among her four stakes winners.
Friday, Milan, Italy
PREMIO PARIOLI (ITALIAN 2000 GUINEAS)-G3, €187,000, San Siro, 5-1, 3yo, 1600mT, 1:35.40, gd.
1–GRAND SON OF DARK (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire
1st Dam: Chica Bonita (GB), by Lope De Vega (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hundi (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
3rd Dam: Hawala (Ire), by Warning (GB)
*1ST GROUP WIN. (£52,000 Ylg '24 GOFAUG). O-Fabio
Manservigi. B-Alexander Bloodstock (Ire). T-Endo Botti.
J-Alessio Satta. €72,250. Lifetime Record: 9-6-1-1, €166,250.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zambezi (Fr), 128, c, 3, Zelzal (Fr)–Mersey (Ire), by Kodiac
(GB). *1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€7,000 RNA '23 ARQDEC).
O-Anita Wigan. B-Mme A Wigan (Fr). T-Tim Donworth.
€31,790.
3–Sunset On Leros (GB), 128, c, 3, Almanzor (Fr)–Juliet Capulet
(Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). (10,000gns Wlg '23 TATDEC;
42,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Paul Hunt & Partner. B-Cheveley
Park Stud, Limited (GB). T-Marco Botti. €17,340.
Margins: 3HF, 3, 1HF. Odds: 6.30, 4.50, 5.50.
Also Ran: Rising Empire (GB), Antiqua Mare (Ire), Gharma Sutra (Ire), Lion Of Alba (GB), My Corbett Court (Ire), Goldinthesea (Ire), Avyaan (GB), Antico Moro (Ire), Kess Impact (Ire), Bloodstorm (Ire), Gaga Mate (Ire). Click for the Grande Ippica Italiana chart & video.
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