Well-fancied on debut when finishing down the track in the Listed ATC Lonhro Plate, 2yo Snitzel colt Campione D'Italia started at outsider odds in the G2 ATC Skyline Stakes (1200m), but proved too strong, holding off stablemate Central Europe (Frankel) to secure a start in the G1 ATC Golden Slipper.
From barrier 6, jockey Tommy Berry had Campione D'Italia settled towards the tail, but that was only momentarily, as the colt pulled himself forward to race on the outside of stablemate Central Europe with just a few behind.
With those in those up front appearing unsure as to who wanted to lead, Zac Lloyd aboard the Chris and Corey Munce trained Queensland visitor Star Of Jamica went forward to take up the running with short priced favourite Warwoven settling in third, attempting to remain unbeaten.
Coming to the home turn, Star Of Jamica had the lead, but Rachel King urged Warwoven along the inside, and while he was taking a little time to warm up, Berry and Campione D'Italia were working home solidly down the outside.
Just as it appeared that Star Of Jamica and Warwoven were set to fight out the finish, Campione D'Italia charged late to put himself in the frame before Central Europe, who had to come off the heels of his stablemate, sprinted impressively to make the finish interesting.
With Campione D'Italia getting the photo narrowly, the run of Central Europe was also impressive to be narrowly beaten with Star Of Jamica and Warwoven narrowly back in third and fourth – less than a half-length margin separated the first four home.
“He's always shown promise, and hence the reason why we've thrown him in the deep end in his first start and again here today,” Waller said.
“We haven't backed off when he did a lot wrong. We stuck to our guns, went back to the trials.
“We've got a good team of track riders at home, just working on getting him to relax. He's a kind horse, but he's just so competitive.
“When those barriers open, he wants to get to the bend first and we've got to teach him to get to the winning post first. We're getting there.
“The beauty of the Golden Slipper is there's going to be speed, well you'd expect there will be speed, so I don't think you'll get a chance to over-race in a Golden Slipper.”
Having narrowly missed on debut, $750,000 Inglis Easter purchased Frankel colt Central Europe was elevated into second favouritism for the Slipper off his effort, and will now head to the G2 Pago Pago Stakes in order to secure his spot in the Slipper.
“Central Europe was awesome,” Waller said.
“He did a few little things wrong, and that's the negative about running in these big races first-up. Their little problems get highlighted, exaggerated.
“He was a bit fresh the first 200 or 300 metres of the race then he was trying to shoulder Campione D'italia out and he wouldn't budge.
“There was a little bit of argy-bargy there, but it didn't knock him off his game, and gee, he was strong late.'”
From just his two starts to date, Campione D'Italia has taken his earnings to $175,500 and is now off to the G1 Golden Slipper were he has shortened considerably to be at 15/1 odds, behind Warwoven who maintained his favouritism after going down narrowly.
Purchased for $500,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock & Partners from the Baramul Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the Gerry Harvey bred colt is the fourth from five to the races out of the Medaglia D'oro mare Medaglia Valore.
Medaglia Valore, a half-sister to the dam of the dual G3 winner Espionage is also the dam of the stakes placed pair of Flashing Steel and Snitzel Miss, with her Zoustar yearling selling for $750,000 at this year’s Magic Millions yearling sale to Mick Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd while the mare was covered by the very same Widden Stud based sire in the spring.
Campione D'Italia’s victory saw him become the 168th stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Champion Sire Snitzel who unfortunately passed away in June last year.
