Ugo Foscolo
Trish Dunell
Star New Zealand three-year-old Ugo Foscolo is thriving in his new surroundings.
The Group One winner continues to impress his new trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who have confirmed his autumn programme.
"Everything is going well and they are really happy with him," said Jonathan Scully, who manages part-owner Kevin Hickman's Valachi Downs operation at Matamata.
"He's settled in very well in the stables and he'll have his first barrier trial in early February.
"Gai and Adrian will then be looking at the Canterbury Stakes and the George Ryder and, all going well, the goal will be the Doncaster. The 1600 metres will be right up his alley."
The $A500,000 Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes will be run over 1300 metres at Randwick on March 4 with the $A1 million George Ryder over 1500 metres at Rosehill a fortnight later. The $A3 million Gr.1 Doncaster will be contested back at Randwick on April 1.
"It's exciting, he's still a very young horse with a lot of improvement yet to come," Scully said.
Previously trained by Stephen Marsh, Ugo Foscolo was unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile, including the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes.
This season, he successfully resumed at Hastings before finishing sixth in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas. He returned to his winning ways in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial ahead of his impressive victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November.
Hickman and Todd Bawden, of Hamilton, shared in the ownership of Ugo Foscolo before they bought out their former partners following the gelding's classic win at Riccarton.
Also a share-holder in Ugo Foscolo's sire Zacinto, Hickman has previously enjoyed success with Waterhouse, who prepared Bohemian Lily to win the Gr.2 The Roses at Doomben. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Group One winner continues to impress his new trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who have confirmed his autumn programme.
"Everything is going well and they are really happy with him," said Jonathan Scully, who manages part-owner Kevin Hickman's Valachi Downs operation at Matamata.
"He's settled in very well in the stables and he'll have his first barrier trial in early February.
"Gai and Adrian will then be looking at the Canterbury Stakes and the George Ryder and, all going well, the goal will be the Doncaster. The 1600 metres will be right up his alley."
The $A500,000 Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes will be run over 1300 metres at Randwick on March 4 with the $A1 million George Ryder over 1500 metres at Rosehill a fortnight later. The $A3 million Gr.1 Doncaster will be contested back at Randwick on April 1.
"It's exciting, he's still a very young horse with a lot of improvement yet to come," Scully said.
Previously trained by Stephen Marsh, Ugo Foscolo was unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile, including the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes.
This season, he successfully resumed at Hastings before finishing sixth in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas. He returned to his winning ways in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial ahead of his impressive victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November.
Hickman and Todd Bawden, of Hamilton, shared in the ownership of Ugo Foscolo before they bought out their former partners following the gelding's classic win at Riccarton.
Also a share-holder in Ugo Foscolo's sire Zacinto, Hickman has previously enjoyed success with Waterhouse, who prepared Bohemian Lily to win the Gr.2 The Roses at Doomben. – NZ Racing Desk.
