Santarelli Super

Despite a tough trip, Santarelli (4 m Darci Brahma – Pennacchio, by Align) prevailed the $18,500 NZB Mega Maiden Series 1360 metres on 21 February at Wanganui.

Santarelli had debuted with a good performance for third in the Maiden 1200 metres on 12 December at Ellerslie, got through near the rail for fourth in the Maiden 1200 metres on 2 January at Tauranga, and bounced back after working on pace in the Maiden 1400 metres on 31 January at Te Rapa.

Awkwardly drawn in barrier eight, premiership leading jockey Craig Grylls was between a rock and hard place when caught wide, but elected to steadily press forward in the open to challenge rounding the home turn and Santarelli sustained a big effort to win after reaching the lead 200m out. 

Although there appeared a threatening late-closer to her inside, the line came up soon enough and a deserved win was the outcome.

On Good4 footing, Santarelli ran 1360 metres in 1:21.7 and held firm in betting to pay $3.60 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a big win after being three-wide with no cover, so she did it the tough way,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“She held strong to the line and it’s great to get a winner for Greg Tomlinson and Andrew Seabrook.

“Greg breeds very good horses at Nearco Stud and Te Akau has a successful relationship with them.

“I can’t see why she couldn’t go on with it in the next grade, because she had to be very game and very tough to win the way she did.  Her first two efforts were solid and it’s good to see her recapture form after a glitch last start, where it just didn’t suit her to work forward and race on speed.

“She’s got a lovely pedigree and the physical scope to progress, and hopefully she takes good confidence from the win.”

By Champion Sire Darci Brahma (Danehill), a colt purchased by David Ellis CNZM as a yearling at Karaka, and trained by Mark Walker to win five Group One races, Santarelli is out of the very good race mare Pennacchio.

A dual listed winner that impressed among eight victories from 1200m – 1600m, which included a strong affinity for the course at Ellerslie, Pennacchio has now left seven individual winners of 29 races, highlighted by stakes' winners. 

The extended family has roots in Argentina, where grand-dam Libia (Ringaro) was a Group Three and Listed winner among eight victories, and fourth dam Auxey (Right of Way) produced seven winners from eight to race, including Auspiciante (Practicante) who left Group One winner Antespend (Spend a Buck), who in turn left Group One Florida Derby winner Friends Lake (A. P. Indy). 

The win continued a terrific week for the stable, with four wins last Saturday at Matamata, including La Dorada (Super Seth) in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, Return To Conquer (Snitzel) in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper, and What You Wish For (Embellish) in the Listed Kaimai Stakes, while also having three wins midweek at Riccarton. 

Santarelli was strapped by Errol (Egg Roll) Rich.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz