The Lindsay Park trained Grande Rosso will be given his chance in Group 1 company following his narrow win in the Listed $120,000 John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Thursday.

Grande Rosso, above white colours with black cap, wins the John Dillon Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Group 1 $500,000 C.F. Orr Stakes on February 11 and the Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes on February 25 are both run over 1400m at Caulfield, the same course and distance as the John Dillion Stakes.

Grande Rosso ($3.10 favourite) sat just behind the leader Master Reset in the run and jockey Regan Bayliss was able to record his first Stakes win as a senior rider when he was able to get the Written Tycoon five year old home by the narrowest of margins from the Darren Weir trained Tonopah ($8.50).

Co-trainer Tom Dabernig said the Team was willing to let Grande Rosso take on Group 1 company in the C.F. Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes as many of the horses that run in those races are usually warming up for contests over a longer journey later in the Autumn Carnival.

“Normally, you’d probably say maybe not [he’s a Group 1 horse], but if a lot of horses are first- or second-up and on the way [back] … he’s hard and fit, so we’ll give it a go I think,” Dabernig said.

“The timing’s perfect.

“He’s probably better with a space between runs.

“We backed him up at Flemington and he went no good.

“Today was a relatively quick back-up, but he did carry a couple of extra kilos so it was equal or a bit tougher today [and he handled it].”

Grande Rosso has been a consistent performer over the Summer months and after working his way up through the classes went on to win the $100,000 VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on December 3.

The Five year old then ran second to Lucky Liberty in the Listed $120,000 Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on December 26 before returning to the winner’s stall when he beat Zupacharged in the Listed $120,000 Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on January 14 prior to his John Dillon Stakes victory.

Grande Rosso has now won seven times from twenty-five starts with prizemoney earnings of $390,210.