NEWS
Estejo, Pressing score Italian group wins
Posted: Sunday, November 09, 2008 4:19 PM
by Myra Lewyn
Racing resumed in Italy this weekend after a month-long horsemen’s strike was resolved, but foreign-based horses stole the spotlight on Sunday at Capannelle Racecourse in Rome.
German-based Estejo won the $303,249 Premio Roma At the Races (Ity-G1) and last year’s winner, English-based Pressing, landed the $161,101 Premio Ribot (Ity-G2).
Estejo, who is trained by Ralf Rohne for owner Giovanni Martone, won by three-quarters of a length from Premio Derby Italiano (Ity-G1) runner-up Permesso and Florida-bred Once More Dubai, who were separated by a nose for second in the 12-horse field.
English Group 1 winner Nahoodh finished eighth under native son Frankie Dettori, and Derby Italiano victor Cima de Triomphe finished 11th under Mick Kinane.
With Daniele Porcu in the leathers, Estejo covered 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) in 2:06.70 on turf rated as good while posting his first victory in a group stakes.
The four-year-old bay Johan Cruyff colt won 2007 Gran Premio d’Italia at San Siro Racecourse in Milan.
Bred in Germany by Gestut Schallern, Estejo is out of The Noble Player mare Este.
Earlier on the card, Gary Tanaka’s Pressing followed his clear victory over Linngari in the International Topkapi Trophy in Turkey on September 7 with a 4¼-length romp under Kinane in the Premio Ribot.
The five-year-old Soviet Star horse has a long association with Italian racing as he formerly was based in Milan with trainer Roberto Feligioni. Pressing reeled off a three-race win streak in Italy last spring, including a Group 3 victory. He followed with a close runner-up finish in the Premio Presidente Repubblica (Ity-G1) at Capannelle and subsequently was purchased by Tanaka and transferred to Newmarket-based trainer Michael Jarvis.
For his new connections, Pressing captured the Premio Roma and Premio Federico Tesio (Ity-G3) last fall. He began 2008 with a runner-up finish, a head behind Saddex, in the Premio Presidente Repubblica on May 18.
In the Premio Ribot, Italian stakes winners Project Dane and Farrel chased home Pressing, who finished 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:39.80.
Project Dane finished second, 1½ lengths in front of Farrel.
Pressing improved to eight wins in 30 career starts. Bred in Ireland by Azienda Agricola Del Parco, Pressing is out of the winning Riverman mare Rafif.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
