Anthony Azzopardi has labelled Grand Oro a star of the future but says the boom youngster is “no good thing” to claim a third straight victory at The Meadows on Saturday night.
Grand Oro has won two of his four starts (with two seconds) and set tongues wagging with a breathtaking maiden victory at The Meadows on September 21.
At his third start, the superbly related son of Azzopardi’s former superstar Zambora Brockie and Nino De Oro, also the mother of Group 1 National Sprint champion Good Odds Cash, scored by 15 lengths in a scorching Best Of Day 29.79sec.
“His 29.79sec win didn’t surprise me at all and I’ve got no doubt he’ll run quicker than that!”
He then went back-to-back at The Meadows last weekend, clocking 30.24sec, and is a ‘red hot’ $1.40 favourite to complete a hat-trick when he exits Box 6 in Saturday night’s opening event, at 6.27pm.
“He can run – he’s a very fast dog – but he’s just a big pup and he’s got no idea at all,” Azzopardi cautioned.
“He’s got a lot of ability. His 29.79sec win didn’t surprise me at all and I’ve got no doubt he’ll run quicker than that!
“But he still makes a few mistakes and Box 6 is a concern on Saturday because he’s a hard crasher.
“It won’t surprise me if he wins but I don’t think he’s a good thing at all, unless he jumps to the front and crosses them.
WATCH: GRAND ORO (B1) broke his maiden in sensational style at The Meadows on September 21, clocking 29.79sec in a stunning 15 length romp.
“I’m telling you; he will head to the fence, and I apologize in advance to the dogs drawn on his inside!
“But he needs to learn, and it will be a good experience for him.
“If he keeps learning and improving, he’s going to be top liner. I’m looking at the Silver Chief and the National Derby in Sydney early next year with him.”
Azzopardi added that his recent G3 SA Derby winner Deadly Class, a flying last start 29.16sec winner at Sandown Park, will contest next Thursday night’s opening round of Melbourne Cup preludes.
