Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Trainer Roydon Bergerson couldn’t hide his enthusiasm following the debut victory of three-year-old gelding Arturo at Wanganui on Friday.
The son of Per Incanto sat outside of race leader Divine Wine for much of the 1200m contest before extending for a soft victory in the hands of Johnathan Parkes.
“There is a lot of improvement in him,” Bergerson said.
“He was probably ready to go to the trials and not the races, but it was a small field so we threw him in. He will just improve massively. He is a really nice horse and he has got a big future.”
Raced by John Norwood and Chris Rutten, Arturo failed to meet his reserve at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, but had shown good ability at the trials and was duly sent out a $2.10 favourite.
“We will probably have another run and then look at the Wellington Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) with him,” Bergerson said.
“He has got the ability. He is untapped really. He has got a great brain and he looks after himself.
“He galloped with Beefeater the other day and got him off the bridle. For a maiden galloper to get a good horse like that off the bridle in trackwork, not many horses do that.”