9 Sep 2023Almanzor made his presence felt on the Group 1 undercard on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival.
His capable son Dimaggio turned his fortunes around with a commanding performance to put away his Rating 65 rivals over 1600 metres.
The Tony Pike-trained four-year-old had finished fifth when resuming last month at Taupo where he was tightened for room in the straight and he made his own luck at Hastings.
He jumped quickly for jockey Kozzi Asano to take up the running and produced a strong kick in the run home to post his second career victory from 12 appearances.
“It probably wasn’t the pre-race plan to be in front, but he jumped well so it was a good ride by Kozzi,” Pike said.
The Cambridge horseman secured Dimaggio out of Curraghmore’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $95,000.
He was bred byT ony Aldridge, Gerard & Vera Moughan and Mary Stanley out of the Pins mare Pinstripe, who is a half-brother to the multiple Group winner Firebolt.
Dimaggio has been a work in progress and Pike expected the gelding to improve further with experience and is planning a return trip to Hastings.
“He has come back stronger and we’ll take him right through the grades and we might look to come back here in three weeks times,” Pike said.