Main day of the first half of the year at San Siro (Milan) centred on the “Gran Premio”

Milan, Sunday, June 17; good

Premio Primi Passi, for 2 y.o., Gr.3, metres 1200, straight track

1st STOLZING, b.m., Kg 56, by Pivotal out Sweet Enough, by Caerleon; Owner: Alexander Pereira; Breeder: in Germany; Trainer: U. Suter; Jockey: A. Suborics,

2nd MISTER CAVERN, b.m., Kg 56, by Lion Cavern out Slow Jazz, by Chief’s Crown; O. and T.: A. Colella; B.: in England; J.: M. Pasquale,

3rd CLEFAIRY, b.f., Kg 541/2, by Sri Pekan out Credit Crunch, by Caerleon; O.: Lechereo Stable, B.: N. Coman (IRE); T.: L. Riccardi; J.: P. Aragoni,

4th ECHO RIVER, ch.f., Kg 541/2, by Irish River out Monassabaat, by Zilzal; O.: Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum; B.:Gainsborough Stud; T.: D. Loder; J.: L. Dettori,

also run: 5th Royal Rhapsody, 6th Halav, 7th Con’s Love, 8th New Air. Retired: Pimentel

Gran Premio di Milano, for 3 y.o. and up, Gr1, metres 2400, main track

1st PAOLINI, ch.m., 4 y.o., Kg 60, by Lando out Prairie Darling, by Stanford; Owner: Lady C. Ostermann-Richter; B.: in Germany; Trainer: A. Wohler; Jockey: A. Suborics,

2nd ELA ATHENA, 5 y.o., gr.f., Kg 581/2, by Ezzoud out Cordelle, by Formidabile; O.: Mr. G. Tanaka, B.: Biddestone Stud; T.: M. Jarvis; J.: P. Robinson,

3rd SUPER TASSA, ch.f., 5 y.o. ,Kg 581/2, by Lahib out Center Moriches; O. and T.: Mr. V. Valiani; B.: P. Banahan; J.: P. Agus,

4th SNETTERTON, b.m., 4 y.o., by Machiavelian out Sherezade, by Tom Roilfe; O.: Pieffegi Stable; B.: Compagnia Generale; T.: P. Bary; J.: D. Vargiu,

also run: 5th Sopran Montanelli, 6th Well Made, 7th Shibuni’s Falcon.

Premio Mario Incisa (ex Legnano), for females 3 y.o. and up, Gr. 3, metres 2400, main track

1st HONORIFIQUE, b.b. , 4 y.o., by Highest Honor out Dancereine, by Groom Dancer; Owner: J.P. Mio; Breeder: Lady B. de Tarragon; Trainer: R. Collet; Jockey: T. Gillet,

2nd STRATEGIC TACTICS, b.b., 3 y.o., by Bigstone out Royal Contest, by Lord Avie; O. and B.: Locsot; T.: Earl Vittorio di San Marzano; J.: M. Esposito,

3rd CORSICAN SUNSET, b., 3 y.o., by Thunder Gulch out Miss Evans, by Nijinsky; O.: C. Wright; B.: In England; T.: P. Cole; J.: I. Mongan,

4th MASANIELLA, b., 4 y.o., by Masad out Paesanella, by Seattle Song; O.: SIBA; B.: SIBA Stable; T.: A. and G. Botti; J.: L. Dettori,

also run: 5th Everlasting, 6th Tita Bravo, 7th Baranja, 8th Well Minded, 9th Luna d’Irlanda, 10th Tucacas. Retired: Ambasciatrice, Miss Caerleon.

Analysis.

The main day of Milan gallop season in the first half of the year is traditionally centred on the “Gran Premio di Milano” that this year lived on a an exciting finish because of the prolonged duel between the winner and his runner-up. At the winning-post the more adaptable and with more turn of foot Paolini, already winner at the half of May of the Premio Presidente della Repubblica at Rome race track, succeeded in keeping his shortest advantage on Ela Athena, while the third, Super Tassa, never intervened in the struggle for victory.

The 2001 renewal of the “Gran Premio di Milano”, still without 3 years old in the field, did not add more news or information about the value and the qualities of the protagonists in the finish, who only increased their bank-account.

Also the winner of Premio Mario Incisa, ex Legnano, Honorifique, imposed herself very easily. She was at her ease on 12 furlongs and had no troubles with the good ground. But also the bounds of the 4 years old by Highest Honor, coming out of a crossbreed “Nasrullah on Nasrullah” (fine but not fit for classic distance and not entirely reassuring with regard to psychic firmness) are well proved by the previous race records of the mare.

Finally, a short notice about the third group race of the afternoon, reserved to 2 years old, the Premio Primi Passi. In this race the Sheikh colour-bearer Echo River was deeply disappointing, perhaps under the spring influence of female sex. The German Stolzing took advantage of the favourable circumstances; he was in the second career start after the winning debut at Baden-Baden.

He was presented in perfect and fit conditions (he was the finest in saddle ring) but this son of the sprinter Pivotal should not have great expectations (considering the racing records of his uterine brothers), unless the grand mother, the very good Pampalina, add very much of her own to the second-rate inheritance of parents.

Roma, June, 19 2000

(Leonello Falco)