Australian Guineas winner Palentino is still on track for a start in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 2 even though he was beaten at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
Palentino is still on track to run in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Trainer Darren Weir wanted to test Palentino over 2040m and he wasn’t disappointed when beaten two and a quarter lengths when second to Tally in the Group 2 $200,000 Alister Clark Stakes.
The Melbourne Cup winning trainer has reported that Palentino has pulled up well after the Alister Clark Stakes and has enjoyed his sessions at the beach and will be heading to Sydney for ‘The Championships’.
“He’s been down the beach and he came through the race in good style, so at this stage it’s off to the Doncaster,” Weir told the Herald Sun.
Palentino has been weighted on 49kg for the Doncaster Mile and is marked at $17 in early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Teofilo colt is a winner of three of his seven race starts and made a quick rise up through the ranks after winning his maiden over 1300m at Stawell in October last year.
Weir stepped him straight up to Listed company and Palentino didn’t disappoint with a win at his very next start in the Listed $150,000 Hilton Hotels & Resorts Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on the final day of the 2015 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Then at his second run into his Autumn Carnival preparation Palentino was denied another win when he was relegated to second on protest after crossing the line first in the Group 3 $150,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 20.
History looked like repeating itself when jockey Craig Newitt on second placegetter Tarzino fired in protest against Palentino in the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 5, but the objection was quickly dismissed enabling the connections of Palentino to celebrate the Group 1 victory.
From his three wins and three seconds from seven starts, Palentino has earned just over $650,000 in prizemoney for his connections.
Current betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Doncaster Mile see the Chris Waller trained glamour mare Winx the ruling $2.50 favourite ahead of her two stablemates Kermadec at $6 and Preferment at $8.
Early market order for the Doncaster Mile at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.50 Winx, $6 Kermadec, $8 Preferment, $10 Happy Clapper, $11 Azkadellia, $13 First Seal, $15 Bow Creek, $17 Excess Knowledge, Palentino, $21 Solicit, Turn Me Loose, $26 Badawiya, Good Project, He Or She, Lucia Valentina, Politeness, Suavito, Vanbrugh.
