By Alan Carasso
It was no surprise that Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) was among the nominees to Sunday's G3 Centenary Vase H. at Sha Tin. After all, his most recent run at the level resulted in a first stakes placing when third to Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready) in the G3 January Cup H. at Happy Valley.
It was a touch more intriguing that Dinozzo, then rated 100 and right at the top of Class 2, was also entered for a midweek handicap at the city circuit, which he duly won with a minimum of fuss, only truly letting down over the final 350m. Trainer John Size told the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Edward Sadler that he'd have been happy to walk away with victory in either of the races, but Dinozzo went one better by easily annexing Sunday's heat to surpass the US$1-million mark in career earnings.
With no apparent speed signed on, Size left the decision making to champion jockey Joao Moreira, who carefully doled out enough rein to allow Dinozzo to stride into a comfortable lead, then slowed them down to a crawl through an opening 1000 metres that was timed in 1:04.03. Slowly upping the tempo on the turn, Moreira asked Dinozzo to sprint perhaps a touch earlier than he wanted, knowing that the longer-winded Eagle Way, who was chasing from second, wouldn't have the same sort of acceleration. The decision proved key, as Eagle Way was in safe keeping entering the final furlong and, with a final 400m in a smart :22.12, Dinozzo was simply not for reeling in. Favored Gold Mount (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}) ran on admirably from the rear given the race shape and tossed in a final section of :21.93 to be second ahead of Eagle Way, who rounded out a 1-3 finish for owner Siu Pak Kwan.
“I think the winter makes it easier to back up, for the horses at least,” Size told HKJC's Andrew Hawkins. “In the summer, it's very tough. We only have a very short period of cold weather in Hong Kong so the opportunities aren't there as much. I did do it quite often when I was training in Sydney, but it was a completely different environment.
He continued, “I've seen some of the boys do it here though, with good results. It's just not me, usually. But in this particular case, we had a rating issue in terms of the class. We had a horse that we thought would handle it and we had the climate to help us out. Obviously, he's handled the back-up from Wednesday night and he's done what we'd hoped.”
While Dinozzo had never been out of the top three in seven runs at the Valley, he had struggled more at Sha Tin, with just two previous wins, including a course-and-distance tally in Class 2 Nov. 19. He was already having his eighth start of the current season Sunday and he is under consideration for the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in three weeks' time.
Pedigree Notes:
Dinozzo is the first stakes winner for his Group 2-winning stallion (by Acclamation {GB}), who entered stud along his sire at Rathbarry Stud in 2012 before relocating to Turkey for the 2017 breeding season. He is the second foal from his dam, who was acquired by Des Leadon and Mariann Klay's County Kildare-based Swordlestown Little for €2,000 from the Aga Khan Studs draft at the 2010 Goffs November sale. Dinozzo was purchased by Brendan Holland's Grove Stud for €44,000 at the 2013 Goffs November sale and resold to trainer Ger Lyons for €75,000 at Orby the following fall. He made one start in Ireland, belying odds of 25-1 to win a Navan auction maiden in October 2015 before he was sold to Hong Kong with the assistance of the SackvilleDonald agency. His Hong Kong debut was delayed by a fractured pelvis. Owing in part to the overseas success of Dinozzo, Nisriyna's then-weanling colt by Kodiac (GB) fetched €250,000 from Capital Bloodstock at the 2017 Goffs November and she is due to Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in 2018.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CENTENARY VASE H.-G3, HK$3,000,000 (£268,945/€306,601/A$477,206/US$383,645), Sha Tin, 2-4, 3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:48.74, gd.
1–DINOZZO (IRE), 122, g, 5, by Lilbourne Lad (Ire)
1st Dam: Nisriyna (Ire), by Intikhab
2nd Dam: Narmina (Ire), by Alhaarth (Ire)
3rd Dam: Noufiyla (Ire), by Top Ville (Ire)
*1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. (€44,000 Wlg '13 GOFNOV; €75,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-Siu Pak Kwan; B-Swordlestown Little; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$1,710,000. Lifetime Record: 20-6-4-4, HK$9,034,075. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Gold Mount (GB), 129, g, 5, Excellent Art (GB)–Dolcetto (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (10,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O-Pan Sutong; B-Mrs L H Field; T-Tony Cruz; HK$660,000.
3–Eagle Way (Aus), 129, g, 5, More Than Ready–Wedgetail Eagle (Aus), by Lure. (A$200,000 Ylg '14 INGEAS). O-Siu Pak Kwan; B-Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty Ltd (NSW); T-John Moore; HK$345,000.
Margins: 3HF, HF, 1. Odds: 21-10, 8-5, 22-5.
Also Ran: Horse of Fortune (SAf), Rivet (Ire), Ruthven (Aus), Secret Weapon (GB).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.
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