Race favourite Riodini provided another example of his burgeoning talent when he comfortably accounted for his three-year-old rivals in the Group III Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.
Unbeaten in three starts leading into Saturday’s contest, the Proisir gelding handled the step up to stakes grade with aplomb.
Settled perfectly one out and one back by rider Sam Collett, Riodini bided his time before pouncing on the leaders shortly after rounding the home bend.
Collett asked him to extend at the 200m and he dashed away to win by a comfortable two-length margin from Showoroses, who held out the fast-finishing Familia with Hasstobegood close up in fourth.
Trainer Nigel Tiley had been keen to see his charge settle near the pace from his good barrier and was delighted with how the race panned out.
“It was exactly where we wanted to put him,” Tiley said
“She was sitting quietly on him and when she asked him the question at the 300m, I was feeling pretty confident.”
Tiley has adopted a patient approach with Riodini, who holds nominations for both the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham next month and also the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March and is keen to see him step up in distance in the near future
“I think we can step him up to the mile and then we are going to have to make some decisions after that,” he said.
“I think the way he was dominant at the line, as I don’t think there was anything taking ground off him, I’m confident we will get the mile with him.”
Tiley confirmed that the next assignment for his stable star would be the Gr.2 Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (1600m) back at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, a race he won with Demonetization in 2018.
It was also the second win in succession for Tiley in the Bonecrusher Stakes having produced Spirits Aubeer to win the race last year before being sold to Hong Kong interests.
Bred and part-owned by Alan Galbraith QC, Riodini is the first foal of his handy racemare Giardini and hails from the family of Gr.2 Hawkes Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Sir Andrew and Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) winner Des’s Dream. – NZ Racing Desk
