Scallopini turned back the clock two years to claim his second Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) at Caloundra while rounding out a profitable day for champion stallion Snitzel who sired a treble at Rosehill including the Group III Canonbury Stakes winner Best Of Bordeaux.
Ridden by Boris Thornton for trainers Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted, Scallopini enjoyed a sweet run in third. When Thornton found the right lane down the centre of the track, Scallopini hit the line strongly to defeat the Epaulette gelding Oscar Zulu by a head with a further one and a quarter lengths back to the High Chaparral gelding Desert Lord in third.
Carrying the colours of Proven Thoroughbreds, Scallopini had been on an 87-week losing streak.
“It’s great to see him back in the winner’s stall. It has been a little wile for him,” O’Dea said.
“he won this race two years ago, then won the Listed Hinkler Stakes at his next start, but has been winless since.
“A lot of times he has drawn bad gates and has not had things go right for him.
“Even though he drew a bad gate today it was a race without a lot of speed in it. I said to Boris to come out neutral on him and see how it plays out early. It was good to see him tough it out.
The 7yo son of Snitzel advances his record to ten wins, six seconds and five thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $600,625.
Purchased by Proven Thoroughbreds/Steve O'Dea for $200,000 from the Yarraman draft at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Scallopini is the first foal of an unraced More Than Ready (USA) mare Rose Of Mulan who is a daughter of the crack racemare Lady Mulan.
The daughter of Bigstone won the Group II Light Fingers Stakes and placed in the Group 1 QTC TJ Smith Classic, Group 1 Coolmore Classic and Group 1 Flight Stakes.
Rose Of Mulan has a 2yo filly foal by Extreme Choice named Decisively who was purchased by O'Brien Thoroughbreds / Yes Bloodstock for $420,000 at last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
After missing in 2019 and slipping in 2020, Rose Of Mulan was covered by Hellbent last spring.
