Darby Win G2 Brisbane Cup with Kiwi Bred Campaldino

Media Release - Saturday June 14

The Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) looms as a possible spring target for New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino, who continued his rapid rise with another outstanding win in the A$400,000 Gr.2 XXXX Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Campaldino wins the G2 Brisbane Cup - image Grant Courtney

Within the space of nine weeks, the Ghibellines gelding has strung together four increasingly impressive victories. He kicked off with wins in the Orange Cup (2100m) and a Benchmark 78 handicap on Randwick’s Kensington track, prompting trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to take him to Brisbane and raise the bar to black-type level.

Campaldino passed his first major test with a dominant performance in last month’s Gr.3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) on a rapidly deteriorating heavy track. Saturday’s Brisbane Cup marked a step up in class and distance, along with a switch to Good3 ground, but there was no difference to the result.

Jockey Tim Clark gave Campaldino a comfortable run, initially sitting outside the front-running True Marvel before easing back into fourth with a lap to go. He was travelling smoothly every step of the way.

Clark allowed him to creep forward from the 700m mark, moving up alongside True Marvel just before the home turn.

Campaldino took command coming into the straight, powering into a clear lead with 300m to run. Etna Rosso tried his hardest to eat into the margin, but Campaldino kept going strongly all the way to the finish line and won by a length and a quarter.

“Since the blinkers have been removed, he has been much better,” Clark said. “That has helped him be so strong at the end of his races.

“He’s a pleasure to ride and another good find out of New Zealand. He has come here and really found his mojo now.

“He’s shooting through the grades nicely. He’s thrived with the sun on his back and he can run a strong two miles. When he had clean air, he really dragged me forward. He had energy stored in the run and he picked up when I let him go.”

Campaldino has Melbourne Cup aspirations - image Grant Courtney

Waterhouse and Bott are now keen to push on to Melbourne in the spring.

Advertisement

“I think we’ll have to go for the Melbourne Cup,” Bott said. “He’s an amazing, progressive horse. He’s come a long way and that tops off the campaign nicely.

“He can't have too long off, but he’s had some nice conditioning this preparation and we’ll try and work backwards from the Melbourne Cup.

“He’s still learning what it is all about. Even when he hit the front today, I was worried about him getting there too early. There is still progression to come. He had a bit of a wander around when he got to the rail, but when he was challenged, I thought he responded nicely in the end.

“He’s lightly raced for a stayer and it will be exciting to see what he can do in a few campaigns ahead.”

From 14 starts, Campaldino has now recorded six wins and four placings. He has banked more than A$500,000 for a Darby Racing syndicate.

Campaldino was bred by the Ricky & Anna Rhodes Partnership and is by White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines out of Zuzana, a daughter of Melbourne Cup winning sire Shocking.

He has a pedigree that backs up his two mile credentials with further staying strength through his grand-dam Laezeel, a sister to Caulfield Cup runenr-up Laebeel, while fourth dam Laelia won the Group I SAJC Adelaide Cup.  

Campaldino began his career in the Matamata stable of Cody Cole, for whom he had four starts last year. He finished seventh and eighth in his first two appearances, then put together back-to-back wins in a 1750m highweight at Taupo and a 2200m Rating 65 at Pukekohe. His performances caught the eye of Rob Waterhouse, and he was purchased privately.

From 10 starts in Australia, Campaldino has now recorded four wins, three seconds, a third, and two fifths. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - XXXX Brisbane Cup Gr2 3200m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(3) Time: 3:22.89
1
Campaldino
- 4g Ghibellines (AUS) x Zuzana (NZ) (Shocking (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 55.5
2
1.3
Etna Rosso
- 5g Decorated Knight (GB) x Kirouna (FR) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
3
4.2
Manzoice
- 5g Almanzor (FR) x Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 53.5
4
5.5
Mr Waterville
- 6g Camelot (GB) x Holy Moon (IRE) (Hernando (FR))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Reece Jones 53
5
5.7
Strathtay
- 5g Preferment (NZ) x Miss Remington (AUS) (Savoire Vivre (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Zac Lloyd 53.5
6
5.7
Star Vega
- 5g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Pacharana (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Kyle Wilson-Taylor 54.5
7
5.9
True Marvel
- 9g Masked Marvel (GB) x Anecdotique (FR) (Enrique (GB))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: J R Collett 54
8
6.3
Nikau Spur
- 8g Proisir (AUS) x Sarsarun (NZ) (Ustinov (AUS))
Tnr: Corey & Kylie Geran Rdr: N Rawiller 57.5
9
7.8
So Dazzling
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Dazzling Lady (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Damien Thornton 53
10
8.7
Alegron
- 6g Teofilo (IRE) x Alegria (AUS) (Medaglia D'oro (USA))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 59
11
8.9
Dillian
- 6g Camelot (GB) x Debdebdeb (GB) (Teofilo (IRE))
Tnr: P & W Hulbert Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53
More Reading...
Inglis Digital Bargain Buys Deliver Kosciuszko Dreamers
Sunshine Law was not the only Inglis Digital success story to come out of the Rosehill meeting on Saturday with two contenders for this year’s $2million Kosciuszko also giving connections cause to dream big and one of them is an unbeaten mare with a Black Type pedigree.
Highland Blaze Wins $250,000 Grand National Hurdle
Jumps racing was the highlight at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday with the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) the highlight and the $100,000 Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) offering a great start to the day.
Ghibellines Off to a Flyer
White Robe Lodge's resident stallion Ghibellines has got off to a roaring start at Karaka, with his first crop of yearlings being in high demand at the Auckland sales complex this week.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
First winner for Ghibellines
New Zealand based first season sire Ghibellines is on the board with his first winner coming at Wingatui on Friday.
Bred to Win Returns on Monday night
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world.
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.