Count da Vinci
Sunday's Gr.3 Hobart Cup winner Count da Vinci, who raced in New Zealand as Faaltline, has been a revelation since arriving in Tasmania.
The six-year-old son of Faltaat managed just one win from 18 starts from Jim Wallace's Opaki stable in the early stages of his career, although he also amassed 11 minor placings.
Since arriving in Tasmania and taking on a new name it has been a different story.
Sunday was his seventh start since being purchased from New Zealand and his sixth win, with his only other start in the apple-isle netting a second-placing in the weight-for-age Summer Cup.
Count da Vinci provided a dream result for owner Wayne Notman, who hatched a plan to win the $200,000 Hobart Cup (2400m) eight months ago and approached Leonard Russo, of Bluegrass Bloodstock.
Russo is best-known for selecting star-sprinter Malaguerra as a yearling for owner Bruno Micalizzi.
Russo spent time working at Cambridge Stud and Te Runga Farm during the early 2000s and still follows New Zealand racing with great interest. He pinpointed Faaltline as a likely type.
"I love the New Zealand thoroughbred and over the past four months I have purchased another three New Zealand tried stayers for clients to race in Australia," Russo said. "Two for the very promising Victorian trainer Shea Eden and one for Group One winning trainer Peter Gelagotis."
While initially trainer Scott Brunton had some doubts about their purchase after assessing Faaltline's New Zealand form, the newly renamed Count da Vinci's results on the track certainly allayed them as he racked up five wins on the trot.
"Lenny Russo identified the horse in New Zealand for Wayne Notman and I was skeptical about the form," Brunton said. "That's why they're the smart blokes. I do the training and they do the buying. It's well documented they got what they paid for him back with some well-placed bets at his first start for us."
Sunday's hometown Cup win for owner and trainer came at the expense of the Darren Weir-trained race favourite Big Duke. Count da Vinci settled behind pacemaking stablemate Gladstone before challenging as the field straightened and going to the line one and a half lengths clear of Big Duke, with Gladstone a half length back in third.
Brunton is now weighing up his options with the up-and-coming gelding, considering either the Launceston Cup later this month or the Warrnambool Cup later in the year. - NZ Racing Desk
The six-year-old son of Faltaat managed just one win from 18 starts from Jim Wallace's Opaki stable in the early stages of his career, although he also amassed 11 minor placings.
Since arriving in Tasmania and taking on a new name it has been a different story.
Sunday was his seventh start since being purchased from New Zealand and his sixth win, with his only other start in the apple-isle netting a second-placing in the weight-for-age Summer Cup.
Count da Vinci provided a dream result for owner Wayne Notman, who hatched a plan to win the $200,000 Hobart Cup (2400m) eight months ago and approached Leonard Russo, of Bluegrass Bloodstock.
Russo is best-known for selecting star-sprinter Malaguerra as a yearling for owner Bruno Micalizzi.
Russo spent time working at Cambridge Stud and Te Runga Farm during the early 2000s and still follows New Zealand racing with great interest. He pinpointed Faaltline as a likely type.
"I love the New Zealand thoroughbred and over the past four months I have purchased another three New Zealand tried stayers for clients to race in Australia," Russo said. "Two for the very promising Victorian trainer Shea Eden and one for Group One winning trainer Peter Gelagotis."
While initially trainer Scott Brunton had some doubts about their purchase after assessing Faaltline's New Zealand form, the newly renamed Count da Vinci's results on the track certainly allayed them as he racked up five wins on the trot.
"Lenny Russo identified the horse in New Zealand for Wayne Notman and I was skeptical about the form," Brunton said. "That's why they're the smart blokes. I do the training and they do the buying. It's well documented they got what they paid for him back with some well-placed bets at his first start for us."
Sunday's hometown Cup win for owner and trainer came at the expense of the Darren Weir-trained race favourite Big Duke. Count da Vinci settled behind pacemaking stablemate Gladstone before challenging as the field straightened and going to the line one and a half lengths clear of Big Duke, with Gladstone a half length back in third.
Brunton is now weighing up his options with the up-and-coming gelding, considering either the Launceston Cup later this month or the Warrnambool Cup later in the year. - NZ Racing Desk
