The racing world turned its attention to Melbourne yesterday for the race that stops a nation, and it was on this grand stage that Inglewood Stud’s young sire Zacinto produced his first Australian Stakes Winner.
A dominant winner of his last start at Caulfield three weeks ago, exciting four-year-old Odeon trounced his 16 rivals in the Listed James Boag’s Premium Stakes (1800m), taking his record to six wins from 16 starts with $385,000 in earnings.
Jumping slowly from an inside gate, Odeon was forced to race against his preferred pattern finding himself midfield against the rail, but under a beautiful ride by Chris Symons, he was eased out rounding the turn before hitting the front 300m out and surging to a smart two length win.
Co-trainer Mathew Ellerton was thrilled with the run.
“He’s hitting his straps now he’s at his right trip, he was very impressive today. We’ll see how he pulls up, I might back him up Saturday.”
And back him up he will, with Odeon accepting for the $2,000,000 G1 Emirates Stakes this coming Saturday, the feature race on the last day of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Bred by Kevin Hickman’s Valachi Downs, Odeon will aim to become Zacinto’s second Group One winner following the win of Ugo Foscolo in last year’s NZ Two Thousand Guineas. Hickman, who shares in the ownership of Zacinto with Inglewood Stud and Windsor Park Stud, has connections to both horses being a major shareholder in Ugo Foscolo.
With his oldest just four, Zacinto has already proven he can not only leave a Group One horse, but plenty of winners. His 40 runners now include 24 winners (60%) of 46 races and three stakes winners (7.5%).