Derby success for Almanzor 3YO

Molveno provided Marco Botti with a memorable homecoming when he triumphed in the G2 Italian Derby.

The son of our resident stallion Almanzor claimed the Newmarket-based trainer’s premier event in his homeland with a thundering late finish in the Capannelle, Rome, classic.

Ridden by Botti’s fellow Italian Marco Ghianni, Molveno wound up powerfully in the run home for the fourth victory of his nine-start career.

He had put the writing on the way at his previous outing on his home track when runner-up over a mile.

“I said to his owner Mr Dainotto after Newmarket that you have to have the right horse for this race, a horse who wants really fast ground, and I wasn't concerned with the trip – he's stayed a mile and three (2200m) at home,” Botti told TDN Europe.

“My main concern was that it is a long way to come here so we tried to plan it so that he had two days in Milan. Everything worked out quite well.

“You never know until you run but basically, a horse rated 90 can be competitive. So that was my view, I knew he was going to be competitive.”

Purchased for 32,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Molveno is a son of the Dubawi mare Clotilde, who won three races and was stakes placed.