16 Apr 2022Dimaggio earned inclusion in the first season success story of his sire Almanzor when he made the perfect start to his career at Hastings.
Prepared by Tony Pike, the strapping juvenile was opposed by only two rivals over 1300 metres and sat outside the leader to the turn before proving a willing partner for apprentice Wiremu Pinn in the straight to post a narrow victory.
“It was always going to be a funnily run race with only three runners. I thought Wiremu was a bit cocky to be honest and sat a bit pretty for a while, but he got the job done,” Pike said.
Dimaggio had been a trial winner at Ruakaka last month and is considered an exciting prospect.
“He’s a beautiful horse and has always showed plenty of ability. He will be a lovely three-year-old over a bit more ground so we’re looking forward to that,” Pike said.
Our shuttle stallion Almanzor has now sired five Australasian winners from his first crop, including Karaka Million hero Dynastic, also runner-up in the G1 Sistema Stakes, while Trav has been another first crop winner in New Zealand and Virtuous Circle and Roznamla have scored in Australia.
Dimaggio was offered by Curraghmore at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka where Pike secured the youngster for $95,000.
He is the first winner for the Pins mare Pinstripe, who is back in foal to Almanzor, and she won a couple of races and is a half-sister to the G2 Shannon Stakes and G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup winner Firebolt.
They are out of the Woodman mare Woodsong, who is a daughter of the G1 Railway Handicap winner Kailey