Bred and sold by Grenville Stud, who have been making headlines at Magic Millions this week, South Australian flyer Sghirripa is in the form of his life, adding Saturday’s Group III Standish Hcp (1200m) at Flemington to his triumph in the Listed Christmas Stakes at Caulfield on Boxing Day and gaining an automatic start in the Newmarket Handicap on at Flemington on March 9.
Ridden by Craig Newitt for Shane and Cassie Oxlade, Sghirripa stalked the early speed down the Flemington straight. When Newitt asked for a effort, the result was immediate and put the race to bed inside the 2000m.
The 4-year-old Lonhro gelding came clear to defeat the dead-heaters Crosshaven (Smart Missile) and Curren (Night Of Thunder) by three lengths.
The Group 1 Oakleigh Plate and Group1 Newmarket Hcp are on the radar for the steel-grey gelding who advances his record to seven wins, two seconds and three thirds from 14 starts with earnings of $507,115.
“I’ve been lucky enough to win of over Group threes at home with good horses, but I’ve said for a long while I think he's the best horse I've had and he just keeps lifting the bar; he was super today" Shane Oxlade enthused.
“He was a bit new and has matured since the winter (when fourth down the straight in June). He has always been a sensible horse and travels so well and does everything you ask a nice horse to do.
“Things can change, but at present, we will take him home on Sunday night, and he will be in the paddock on Tuesday morning.
“I will talk to ‘froggy’ (Craig Newitt) and see what he thinks ids the best race for him.”
A $70,000 purchase for Francesco Sghirripa from the Grenville Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Sghirripa is the best of two winners from as many to race for the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Wonder I Do.
A $100,000 purchase for Grenville Stud from the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when carrying Sghirripa, Wonder I Do is a half-sister to stakes-winners Albumin and Holy Empire.
A granddaughter of the Group 1 VRC Oaks and Group 1 VATC One Thousand Guineas winner Tristanagh, Wonder I Do has a yearling filly by Merchant Navy who has been entered for the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Read more about Grenville Stud here, The Pride of Tasmania!
Wonder I Do was covered by Stratosphere in October after missing to an earlier cover by Pinatubo (IRE).
