A bright future is being tipped for local gelding Giacomo (NZ) (Puccini) following his comfortable victory in the Holster Engineering Lally And Symes South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata on Wednesday.
The six-year-old son of Puccini was sent straight to the front by jockey Jasmine Fawcett, where they were able to dictate terms throughout. When asked to improve at the top of the straight, Giacomo quickly opened up several lengths on his rivals, eventually running out a 2-3/4 length victor.
Giacomo had placed in his previous three outings, and trainers Peter and Shaun McKay were pleased to see him score a deserved victory.
“It was good to finally see him get his own way in front, and even down the back, and he showed his good turn of foot, and he won well,” Shaun McKay said.
“He is going to be a good stayer. He is still learning, and getting his own way in front for a few more starts is going to build his confidence.”
McKay hasn’t identified any immediate targets for Giacomo, but said they may keep going with their gelding for a couple of starts before sending him for a well-deserved break.
“We have just taken it step-by-step with him,” he said. “We didn’t know we were going to get him up to 2000m at this stage. We will see how he pulls up, but he might have one or two more runs left.” Bred by Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison, Giacomo has now won five and placed in 13 of his 45 career starts and has earned nearly $145,000 in prizemoney.
