Trish Dunell
Well-performed overseas performer Giovanni Canaletto won’t be a player at the Hawke’s Bay carnival.
The six-year-old will instead be given more time by trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott with their focus now on a summer programme for the chestnut.
“He’s been in and done a bit of work and we’ve tipped him out again on the hills,” Scott said.
“We wanted to get him familiar with the stable and he was very well-behaved the whole time.
“We’re in no rush and we’ll give him another month off and bring him in toward the back end of August so we’re looking at the Christmas racing and beyond.”
Scott said if Giovanni Canaletto can reproduce anything like his European and Hong Kong form the chestnut would be competitive in feature domestic races.
“He’s going to be an interesting horse over the summer months,” Scott said.
Giovanni Canaletto finished fourth in the Gr.1 English Derby (2400m) and third in the Gr.1 Irish Derby (2400m) before stints in Hong Kong with Tony Cruz and later Paul O’Sullivan.
Although he failed to win in six starts, he did finish third in the 2016 Gr.1 Hong Kong Derby (2000m) behind the New Zealand-bred Werther.
Giovanni Canaletto is owned by Hermitage Thoroughbreds, who also raced the now-retired 2016 Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) winner Willie Cazals.
“Willie had all the time off like this chap is having and that worked the oracle so we’re hoping it does again,” Scott said.
Willie Cazals returned from tendon injuries to triumph in the Hawke’s Bay feature and Giovanni Canaletto is on the way back from similar issues. – NZ Racing Desk.