Marocchino’s Golden Campaign Continues
Marocchino’s golden campaign reached its peak when the emerging Lou Luciani-trained stayer won his fourth straight race at Ascot on Saturday.
After wins in the Albany Cup (2100m) and Diggers Cup (1800m), Marocchino claimed a runaway victory in the $100,000 Eurythmic Stakes (2150m).
Marocchino never surrendered the lead after being sent forward by in form jockey, Chris Parnham and defeated Come Play With Me by 2 ¾ lengths.
Mackenzie Brooke ran third to give top trainer Adam Durant second and third placings.
A dual Listed place getter in last year’s Aquanita Stakes (2000m) and Belmont Classic (2200m), Marocchino has taken big steps this preparation.
Luciani said the son of Maschino will almost certainly go to the paddock with his thoughts now turned to Ascot’s summer carnival later this year.
“He has just kept developing and maturing mentally,” Luciani said.
“He has been tough and handling it all the way through.
“I thought it was going to take a pretty good horse to beat him with the way they left him alone.
“I know it’s stupid, but the horse hasn’t taken half a step backwards, he’s certainly going as well if not better than ever.
“I’m pretty confident we won’t go for a couple of the weight-for ages in the middle of winter.
“He’s been up a long time, I think it’s his 10th or 11th start, you wouldn’t think so.
“He will certainly race during the carnival.
“He’s always been a wintry type of horse, so how he performs in the summer in front of big crowds is another thing.
“Whether he’s mature enough to handle it is another thing.
“We’ll certainly look at it.”
Parnham’s win on Marocchino was the pinnacle of another red-letter day in the saddle.
Fresh from celebrating 100 season winners on Wednesday, Parnham also won on Flying Missile, Angelic Miss and Bruce Almighty.
He said the ease of Marocchino’s victory caught him by surprise.
“He won pretty easy in the end,” Parnham said.
“I think I underrated him a bit from when I last rode him.
“He’s improved a lot and is a much better horse now.”
Julio Santarelli