Stratum Colt Takes San Domenico Stakes
Sydney – Trial watchers in Sydney have been impressed with the way Stratum colt Va Pensiero has returned following a winter break and he ran up to that form with a stylish victory in the Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Ridden by Tim Clark, the Jason Coyle trained colt jumped fast and strode up to sit outside the leader Kuroshio before powering to the line to hold off all challengers and win by half a length.
The race was marred by the late scratching of the favourite Whittington, who played up in the gates, but full credit to Va Pensiero, who was competitive with some of the best juveniles last season.
“He’s been thereabouts before and been a bit unlucky, but it all fell into place for him today,” said Jason Coyle.
“His trackwork had been good and his trials have been great and he showed today how well he’s come back.”
Coyle hopes Va Pensiero will progress to the better races and has nominated him for the Group I ATC Golden Rose and MRC Caulfield Guineas.
Va Pensiero was passed in at the 2012 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when consigned by Brooklyn Lodge and retained to race by his breeder, which has proven a smart move as the three year-old has won over $160,000 in prizemoney from just six starts.
He is the second winner for smart Langfuhr (Can) mare Rosmarino, a good metropolitan winning grand-daughter of Group II winner Gelsomino.
Va Pensiero is the 19th stakes-winner for Stratum, who stands this year at a fee of $38,500.