Rome

The consistent Goldenas (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) secured his first stakes victory on his first try in Sunday's €640,200 2200-metre G2 Premio 140 Derby Italiano in Rome. A 12-1 shot on Sunday, the bay held the lead for a few strides from the bell, and soon settled to stalk from midpack. In a solid rhythm by the midway point, Goldenas was asked for his best a half-mile from the wire and began to make in roads toward the front. In charge shortly before the 400-metre mark, Goldenas drew off to...

After breaking through by more than 10 lengths in a claimer at second asking, Steal Sunshine showed enough ability against optional claimers to earn himself a spot in Gulfstream's GI Curlin Florida Derby. While he checked in sixth there, 8 1/4 lengths behind winner White Abarrio (Race Day), Steal Sunshine continued to show promise, posting back-to-back wins in his last two starts, including the Carry Back S. when seen last July 9. Making his first start outside of Gulfstream Park, the 6-1 runner was left in the blocks and trailed...

Favoured Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) rewarded the Capannelle faithful with a narrow score in the G2 Derby Italiano over 2200 metres on Sunday. Tanking up to sit in midpack while glued to the rail, the Markus Klug-trained colt was a bit keen nearing the bend, but eventually settled down. He edged toward the front under his own power while still saving ground, and was tipped off the inside to make his run 800 metres from home. Employing a speedy turn of foot, he drew into contention at the 600-metre...

Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) had only faced the starter twice, good for a third in a Sept. 27 Munich seven-furlong affair and a second in a 10-furlong contest at Baden-Baden on Oct. 15, but he managed to break his maiden and earn a first black-type rosette in the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli at Capannelle. The heavy going did not phase the grey and he perched in a tugging second shortly after the gates flew with Crystal Drake (Ity) (Full Drago {Ity}) leading the vanguard. Positions were largely unchanged as...

A winner last time out of the G3 Premio Verziere Mem Aldo Cirla, Sopran Basilea (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) doubled her group-winning tally in the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio at Capannelle on Sunday. Sent off at 6-1, the Grizzetti Galoppo trainee broke last and soon secured a position near the tail of the field in the heavy going as Eulaila (Ity) (Arcano {Ire}) led by open lengths. Saving ground against the fence, Sopran Basilea improved to midfield on the bend and was moving with a full head of steam...

Likeable gelding Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), a Group 1 winner in France and Germany, continued to pad his admirable record with a second victory in the G2 Premio Roma at Capannelle on Sunday. The grey won his first edition in 2019. Sent off at 6-5, the crowd's pick raced last of all in the bog-like going, as Alastor (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) cut out the early running. Making up ground down the long straight, Skalleti raced out in the center of the course and was within striking distance with a quarter...

Purciaretta landed her first black-type win in the Listed Premio Divino Amore Livermore and became her first-season sire's second stakes scorer at Campannelle. A winner at first asking back in May, she won a Rome affair four starts later going 1000 metres on Sept. 24. She then took a conditions race there on Oct. 15 and was narrowly favoured on Sunday. Breaking from the rail, the filly raced one off the fence and just behind a rival in second. Purciaretta spent the middle part of the race with her head...

Already a listed winner after taking Milan's Premio Giuseppe de Montel on June 30, El Kabeir colt Don Chicco (GB) bounced back from a second versus heavy 2-5 favourite Some Respect (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the Oct. 3 Listed Premio Vittorio Riva with a 1 1/4-length victory in the Premio Gran Criterium in Rome on Sunday. Second in a local debutante heat over 1000 metres on May 1, the bay graduated by three lengths switched to the all-weather here just eight days later and was making his fifth start in...

Atamisque (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}), who was a course-and-distance winner when unveiled on Oct. 3, gave her sire his first black-type winner and group scorer in one fell swoop with a 3 1/2-length success in the G2 Premio Dormello in Rome on Sunday. The 6-5 crowd's pick tracked the pace in sixth through the early going as Terra Del Sole (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) showed the way. That rival hugged the rail into the home straight as the rest of the field shifted away from the inside and was still clinging...

3rd-Rome, €13,200, Mdn., 6-2, 2yo, 1400m (AWT). IL GRANDE GATSBY (IRE), (c, 2, Churchill {Ire}--Irene Watts {GB} {GSP-Ity, $133,610}, by Miswaki Tern), who ran second when unveiled over 1200 metres on the local synthetic on May 9, was the second choice on the board at 2-1 in this step up in trip. Noticeably warm in the preliminaries, he perched in fourth while glued to the fence through the opening furlongs. Shifted out on the bend, he was asked for his bid 400 metres from home and, began to make inroads...

The Italian black-type calendar was released by the Italian MIPAAF on Monday. Rome starts its turf season on Mar. 5. with Milan and San Siro each beginning on Mar. 14. Regarding the Italian Classics, the G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) and the G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas), will both be held in Rome on Apr. 25 and each carries a purse of €138,600. The €633,600 G2 Derby Italiano, the richest Group 2 race in Europe, is scheduled for Rome on May 23. Milan plays host to the...