First Stakes Winner For D’Argento

Dane Squance - Saturday April 5

One of five black type performers for his G1 Rosehill Guineas-winning sire D’Argento (So You Think), the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Statuario became the first stakes winner for his sire, relishing the step up in trip to claim the Listed MRC Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield.

Statuario scores a commanding in in the Listed Galilee Final - image Reg Ryan / Racing Photos

A last start second in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley, the grey gelding settled handy in the slowly run race before taking control as the field rounded the final turn, charging away under John Allen to win by more than two lengths as the race favourite.

Advertisement

Purchased for just $18,000 from the draft of Bowness Stud at the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale by his trainers, Toward Reward Syndications and agent Lenny Russo’s Bluegrass Bloodstock, Statuario has now recorded three wins and three placed efforts from just ten starts with over $250,000 in earnings.

Now favourite for the Group 1 SA Derby (2400m) on May 3 at Morphettville, connections have some big decisions to make.

“It’s hard to know off that page whether he’s a genuine stayer or not,” co-trainer David Browne said, “Today, he showed it. He switched off and showed that turn of foot over ground. He did what he needed to do.

“Whether we freshen now and go to Queensland or whether we take the four-week gap and go into the derby in SA. It looks a nice race for him.

“We should have a go (at a derby) now. I just didn’t want to stretch him out over the spring as he was a bit weak, but he’s just starting to furnish now.”

Statuario has an army of happy owners! -image Reg Ryan Racing Photos

The first foal from Miss Entice, the Dash For Cash sister to Listed Cranbourne Cup winner Boom And Zoom, Statuario’s half-brother by So You Think’s Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes winner Peltzer was sold at this year’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast for $170,000 to Duncan Ramage’s DGR Thoroughbreds and Chris Anderson Racing.

Miss Entice foaled another colt by Peltzer in 2024, before unfortunately missing to D’Argento last season, but will be one of the first to visit him when the 2025 covering season begins on September 1.

D'Argento

James Daly, who operates Bowness Stud with wife Jocelyn was excited by victory.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to see D’Argento notch his first stakes winner,” enthused Daly.

“It’s a meaningful result for us because we’ve always believed in the quality and potential of his progeny. This win reinforces what we’ve seen all along - his stock have the strength, scope and mindset to deliver as they mature. A big congratulations to Sparta Racing, we’re excited for what’s to come.”

With his oldest runners just 3, D’Argento has been represented by five stakes performers to date including the Restricted Listed Inglis Nursey third placegetter Sequista who looked good on Friday when winning her barrier trial at Rosehill by just shy of three lengths from stakes winners Within The Law (Lucky Vega) and Memo (Capitalist), with all three likely to clash in the $1m Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes on April 12.

Advertisment

Race Result - Elvis Thurgood Galilee Series Final LR 2400m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 2:31.47
1
Statuario
- 3g D'argento (AUS) x Miss Entice (AUS) (Dash For Cash (AUS))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: John Allen 57
2
2.3
Politely Dun
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Politeness (AUS) (Street Sense (USA))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57
3
3.3
Litzdeel
- 3f Dundeel (NZ) x Geblitzt (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Zac Spain 55
4
4.3
Prince Pinot
- 3g Vino Rosso (USA) x Kusha (AUS) (King Of Kings (IRE))
Tnr: R G Symons Rdr: Teodore Nugent 57
5
5.5
Kicking King
- 3g Highland Reel (IRE) x Tivoli Lass (AUS) (Uncle Mo (USA))
Tnr: Thomas Carberry Rdr: Neil Farley 57
6
6.8
Dolce Dior
- 3f Dundeel (NZ) x Campania (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: Peter Snowden Rdr: Jye McNeil 55
7
6.9
Red Aces
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Cardiac (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: W Egan 60
8
8.4
Scandoval
- 3g Impending (AUS) x Sweet Maggie (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: P Kearney Rdr: R Mc Leod 57
9
8.4
Dharam Shalaa
- 3g Shalaa (IRE) x Truly Discreet (AUS) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: L Currie 57
10
11.4
Baffleck
- 3g Toronado (IRE) x Jaylo (AUS) (Helmet (AUS))
Tnr: Ms N Burke Rdr: Beau Mertens 57
11
15.4
Rapid Cheval
- 3f Super Seth (AUS) x Vitesse (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: S B Laming Rdr: C Newitt 55
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Bowness Stud Announce D’Argento’s 2025 Fee
With his current crop of three-year-olds exceeding expectations on what they achieved last season at two, Group 1 winner D’Argento (So You Think) will remain at a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST), with live foal payments terms applying for the upcoming breeding season.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
He’s a dashing grey just like his sire and blessed with an electric turn of foot which we saw today when he stepped up to 1400m for the first time.