Progressive stayer Lombardi flew under the radar heading into his fresh-up run on Saturday at Riccarton and indicated there is plenty more to come this spring with a decisive win over 1400m.
Prepared by Bruce Smith, Lombardi had been a model of consistency in competitive races from 1600 to 2600m last season, including finishing a close-up third behind talented performers Noble Knight and Good Oil during New Zealand Cup Week.
The six-year-old didn’t run a bad race all autumn and was sent for a deserved spell in mid-April, with his resuming run on Saturday seemingly perceived by punters to be a kick-off point for the preparation, closing him at $15.30 with Zacat on top of the market at $4.60.
Lombardi proved he was more than just a handy stayer, travelling comfortably throughout the contest under Craig Grylls and when asked for an effort at the 300m, he went to the lead and held off the challenge of Zacat to score by 1-1/2 lengths.
Smith was thrilled to see the son of Verdi add his third win from 21 starts, and said he expects further improvement as the distances rise.
“You can’t complain on a run like that, he’s a nice horse in the making,” Smith said.
“He’s definitely better over ground, but he just puts himself in the race so easily which is possibly his downfall at times. He bounces out and tends to be a bit handier than I’d like him to be.
“He won’t go around until the end of the month now, there isn’t really anything suitable for him until then so as long as things go to plan, he’ll run on the 31st of August.
“He’ll step straight up to 1800m which I haven’t got a problem with, if there had been a mile last Saturday he would’ve run in that instead but the 1400 was the only option.
“We’ve got a bit of a long-term plan with him, but we’ll just keep working on that along the line.”
Lombardi was bred by co-owner Angela Hutchinson, being the first foal out of her Kingmaker mare Queen’s Pal, who was a full-sister to Kings Pal, a Listed performer and six-race winner.
“Angela Hutchinson has been with me for all of my career, I had a nice horse for her a few years ago called Kings Pal that she also bred and I’m very grateful to have her on board,” Smith said.
“Her son and daughter both have a share in Lombardi alongside a couple of others and myself. She’s been in the game her whole life and she trusts me to do the job, so I’m very lucky.
“They’re lovely people and are passionate about racing whether it be win, lose or draw.
“They’ve got a half-sister by War Decree to Lombardi in the paddock who has just turned two, so we’ll bring her in shortly and see how we go. The family is very consistent, especially on the dam’s side. She (Pipkin, granddam) had never been to a top stallion, but every horse has been able to run.”
Smith trains his small team out of close friend Danny Frye’s Balcairn property, a relationship that spans back to his time as a jockey in the mid-eighties, where he rode more than 100 winners.
“I did my apprenticeship with Danny and he’s the closest thing I have to a brother. We’ve been buddies for all of our lives and he’s got his operation here so I’m lucky enough to work out of it,” Smith said.
“We just work together and help each other, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without him.
“He’s got a ride in the amateur race on Wednesday, everyone thinks Scotty (Macnab) is the oldest amateur rider going around but there’s one older, and that’s Danny.
“His daughter (Ashley Frye) is riding as well. You don’t often get to see a father and daughter riding together and she works out of Danny’s place as well.
“We have a private track here and then go into the Rangiora track for gallops. We’ve just come back from the beach with a couple that are racing on Wednesday as well.
“They’re trying to get rid of the Rangiora course which is sad, it’s a good training centre and we can work on the grass and sand, there are plenty of options there.”
Smith’s contingent also includes Impending filly Conflict, who he and Frye purchased via gavelhouse.com after she had two starts as a juvenile for Wexford Stables.
“She’s coming along well, she’ll kick off at the trials next week. There is a race for her on the 31st as well, but we’ll just get the trials out of the way and see where we are at,” Smith said.
“I have another little filly for a local syndicate of boys who is not too far away from trialling too, I just play around with three so I can keep my head above water.”
