The legend of lightly raced five-year-old Durazzo continues to grow following victory in the $150,000 Listed Jacksons Security Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in Launceston on Friday night.
Smashed in betting from $2.80 to start $1.80 favourite, Durazzo was given the run of the race by jockey Kelvin Sanderson, landing in the one-one position early in the race after jumping from barrier 7.
Durazzo was presented at the top of the straight to wear down the leader, Tsunami Sam ($13), and it was no easy task with the Tsunami Sam fighting doggedly to finish third with Just Cruisin’ ($11) flashing from back and wide in the field to split that pair.
The win takes Durazzo’s record to nine wins from 13 career starts, and trainer Barry Campbell was full of praise for his stable star.
“He’s never run a bad race in his life, but it’s just marvellous that in 12 months he’s gone from being unable to get a run in this race to being near topweight. He’s a terrific horse,” the trainer said.
After defeating his opposition under handicap conditions in the Newmarket, Durazzo appears to have the summer at his mercy as the racing shifts to weight-for-age with the Conquering Stakes (1400m) on 10 December, his likely next assignment.
“This was his danger race, when he gets to weight-for-age, he’s going to take a power of beating, isn’t he?” said Campbell.
For jockey Kelvin Sanderson, it was 25 years between Newmarket victories, having won aboard Royal Rambo in the year 2000.
“It’s so much nicer to get out of bed in the morning when you’re riding horses like Durazzo,” said Sanderson.
Less than four lengths covered the first 10 across the line in the Newmarket, with several eye-catching runs among the beaten brigade.
Crack the Shutters shows her class
While Barry Campbell took out the Newmarket, he had to settle for second place in the $125,000 The Baker Group 3YO Cup, with the Stuart Gandy-trained Crack the Shutters ($2.90) scoring an emphatic victory.
There was a minor sensation pre-race with Mazzini ($5) requiring a bridle replacement, and after that occurred, he was very fractious behind the barriers, resulting in a significant delay.
When the field eventually got away, race favourite Sanniya ($2.50-$1.85) found the front, with stable Mazzini sitting outside. Crack the Shutters had a lovely trail in behind that pair, and when presented at the top of the straight by Anthony Darmanin, she quickly put the leaders away with a winning margin of 1.75 lengths on the line.
“Anthony had a plan, and he executed it very well,” said Gandy.
“She’s so laid back, for an Alpine Eagle, she’s years ahead of her age. Where we go from here, I don’t know. We’ll talk to the owners and assess, but at this point in time, she could be a Mystic Journey or any type of race.”
The 1:09.39 overall winning time of the 3YO Cup was around five lengths quicker than the 1:10.24 recorded by Durazzo in the Newmarket.