HOLLOW'S RIARIO SHOWS HE HAS CLASSIC POTENTIAL

Taken from the EBN

Riario confirmed himself a true Classic prospect with an emphatic two and half length win on Sunday in the Premio Torre Astura at Capannelle. The three-year-old chesnut by the first crop sire BEAT HOLLOW came from the back of the pack with a powerful kick to outpoint the previous Listed winner Ladak. “He is a very nice colt and still improving” said owner/trainer Mil Borromeo, who took the 2005 Derby Italiano with the De Sica.

Borromeo picked up Riario for e17,000 at the SGA Selected Sale. “I trained his half-sister Bianca Sforza. She was very very good and I rated her Group race material, but she picked up a breathing problem. I bought Riario looking to make a quick profit and I sent him to SGA’s Breeze Up [last year]” he said. The Italian trainer was lucky because Riario failed to reach the reserve at e30,000 and came back to his stable.

Riario was an impressive winner on his debut back in November at Pisa. “This win gave me plenty of options. He needed some time because he is a late maturing sort. He wintered very well and I can plan a proper programme with him” said the Italian trainer.

The Premio Gardone, to be run on Sunday, 8th April at San Siro, could be Riario’s final prep race for the Premio Parioli, the Italian 2,000 Guineas. “We have two options: the Premio Gardone or the Premio Daumier in Rome. I prefer to run Riario in the Milanese trial because he will have one more week before the Classic. I think he can stay further than a mile but right now we are focused on the Premio Parioli,” he added.

Riario is the fourth foal, and the third winner out of Caterina Sforza (Machiavellian). His dam won impressively on her debut and was judged good enough for a tilt at the Oaks d’Italia, but she ran disappointingly. The second dam Symeterie (Seattle Song) is out of Carnet Solaire, a half-sister to Konafa, the dam of Keos and Korveya. Breeder Franca Vittadini sold Caterina Sforza, not covered, for 18,000gns at the 2004 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. “I’ve still got Spirit of Peace, Caterina Sforza’s half-sister by Singspiel. Spirit of Peace won a good race and set a track record over ten furlongs at San Siro” said Franca Vittadini.

Spirit of Peace’s first foal is the three-year-old filly Lonesome Tonight (Inchinor), who was placed three times at San Siro last year. She has a two-year-old filly by Efisio, and a yearling colt by Royal Applause. the dam of the Italian Champion Miler Ramonti (Martino Alonso), who as been acquired by Godolphin after his third place in the Hong Kong Mile.

Date: 8 March 2007