Winner: Cinturato Boom at the Bool

Making light of Heavy10 conditions, Cinturato (3 g Shamus Award – Pirellina, by Gio Ponti) won the A$50,000 TAB Benchmark 70 3YO 1400 metres on Thursday 7 May, during the three-day Warrnambool carnival in Victoria.

A carnival that began in 1873, Warrnambool features eight jumping races over three days, including the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m), and major flat races: the Warrnambool Cup (2350m) and Wangoom Handicap (1200m). 

Backed as unbeatable when winning a Maiden 3YO 1400 metres in February at Cranbourne (Melbourne), Cinturato had finished well for second in the Benchmark 66 3YO 1600 metres on 6 April at Sandown, since finished strongly to win a jump out on 27 April at Cranbourne, and trainer Mark Walker had the horse in great order for the assignment.

Beneficially drawn (9) away from the rail on testing ground, Cinturato was steadied beyond midfield for cover by jockey Jamie Mott, appeared to travel sweetly throughout, and after looming wide around the home turn he proved too strong for his rivals in the straight.

“He had no exposed race form even on soft (ground), but I had the backing of Terry (Henderson OTI) and the stable, and they were confident on his exposed form in trials and track work on wet ground that he would handle it,” said Mott, who rode winners on all three days of the carnival.

“He’s a beautiful horse, so relaxed, travelled great, and I was able to edge wider before I let him go.

“The inside section of the track is really worn. They did roll it each day, but it doesn’t take long to chew it up again, so middle to outside is the freshest ground out there.”

Winning by one and a quarter-lengths, Cinturato ran 1400 metres in 1:26.5, last 600m in 37.5 (approx.), paid $5.00 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote, and took his record to two wins, second, and third, from six starts. 

“It was a great ride of Jamie’s,” Walker said. “He travelled up nicely, held him together, and he finished really strongly.

“It’s great to win in those famous colours (navy blue and gold hoops, white sleeves) for Terry Henderson and his whole team.

"OTI won the South Australian Derby on Saturday, so they’ve had a good week. They keep finding good horses all the time and they’re a great team to work with.

“He (Cinturato) has shown he can get through wet ground and there’s a bit of that coming up, but I think next year he’ll be better and even as a five-year-old. He’s a big raw-boned sort of horse, but he’ll just keep improving.”

Cinturato is by Australian Champion Three-Year-Old Shamus Award (Snitzel), the first three-year-old to win the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) double, and is sire of Te Akau trained dual Group One winner Quintessa who will be offered at the upcoming Magic Millions' National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast later this month.

His dam Pirellina is a daughter of US Champion and seven-time Grade One winner Gio Ponti, by elite stakes producing sire Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat).

Pirellina was won twice over 1600 metres, in she in turn is out of Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m) winner Cinque Cento (Nothin’ Leica Dane), and breeding suggests Cinturato may in time appreciate further. 

In addition to winning the Doomben Cup, Cinque Cento also won the Group 2 Queen of the South (1600m) and Group 3 Doomben Roses (2020m). 

Purchased by OTI for $100,000 at the 2024 Inglis Ready2Run Sale, from the draft of Prima Park (Matamata), Cinturato is owned by O T I Racing, Te Akau Cinturato Racing Partnership, L Condon, T Chan, J Lundberg, J O'Flynn, D Hammer, M Iacobucci, B Quinn, K Peart, Butter Wheel, G Ward, W Peart, Beartown No. 28, D Cicciarelli, G Donnelley, C Quadrino, Lifestylin 1, Webbmck Racing, I G 18.

Cintuarato is the second foal of Pirellina, while the first, Cinque Ponte (Toronado), is a dual winner over 1400 metres.

Cinturato was strapped by Wyatt Jenkins.